PROPOSALS by a Scottish university to build a new campus have been given approval by planners.
South Lanarkshire Council has given the green light to a new campus for the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) on the edge of Hamilton.
The planning committee heard that, while the campus was contrary to the local development plan, planning permission in principle was justified because the relocation of the university would create "significant economic benefits" and there would be no adverse impact on the Green Belt.
The move comes just months after UWS ditched controversial proposals to move its Hamilton campus to a motorway business park.
Campaigners had opposed plans by the university to relocate to the Eurocentral industrial estate on the M8 east of Glasgow, but instead UWS decided to move to the Hamilton International Technology Park (HITP) some 15 miles south east of Glasgow on the A725.
The development includes plans for state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities for students and lecturers, sports amenities and new student accommodation.
It will also see the west side of HITP become the UWS Technology and Innovation Park, housing UWS’s research and commercial activities.
A UWS spokesman said: “We are delighted that consent for this proposed campus has been granted by South Lanarkshire Council.
“The new campus is subject to final approval being given by the university’s governing body at a meeting at the end of June. This meeting will see Court consider the findings of the full business case which was recently undertaken.
“If approved by Court, the new campus will be a game-changer for higher education in Scotland, creating the country’s most dynamic and exciting learning environment, allowing UWS to grow the educational opportunities for students internationally, across the UK, Lanarkshire and the wider central belt."
The university has approximately 4,000 students and 285 staff at its current Lanarkshire campus and makes an annual economic impact of over £69 million in South Lanarkshire.
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