21st June 1999

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The University of Ulster's new strategy for the Belfast Area, which is an integral part of its Corporate Plan for the opening years of the new millennium, received the approval of its Council at a special meeting on Friday 18 June.

The Area Plan includes retention and redevelopment of the existing York Street campus, in tandem with agreement on the subject mix to be offered at the Springvale Educational Village. As the governing body of BIFHE last week gave approval to the Belfast Institute's Corporate Plan, this means that the Springvale development can move ahead towards implementation. The conditions are now finally in place for the release of government's contribution of £40 million towards the funding for the Springvale Educational Village.

Professor Lord Smith of Clifton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, today publicly welcomed the decision. The Vice-Chancellor commented that the people of North and West Belfast could look forward to the final resolution of what is widely accepted as the United Kingdom's most radical and inventive idea in the field of higher education and community regeneration.

He said this morning:

"Although it has taken longer than expected, this is very good news indeed. All parties to Springvale can now be fully engaged in seeing it to fruition. In terms of the UK's higher and further education system, it is by far the most exciting development. This was acknowledged by the fact that both President Clinton and Prime Minister Blair attended the opening ceremony last September when the first turf was cut".

Lord Smith continued:

"The University looks forward eagerly to playing its part in a project which will enhance educational opportunities in a way recommended by the Dearing Report, socially enhance the whole area of North and West Belfast and assist in the vital economic regeneration of the area. In the wider context of this University's mission, Springvale will form part of a higher education blueprint for the Belfast Area: in this way, it enables further exciting developments to take place at Jordanstown, including the establishment of the new Sports Institute, launched today by Government. I am particularly pleased that under the Area Plan, we will be able to retain the York Street campus and indeed to re-develop it in a new purpose-built imaginative way. This will allow us to offer a balanced and cohesive strategy as part of the revitalisation of greater Belfast".

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk