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UCL confirms development plans to create a new higher education cluster on Olympic Park

4 December 2013

UCL has reaffirmed that it is continuing to develop plans for a new university quarter in Stratford, following publication of the Government's National Infrastructure Plan today, setting out proposals to support creation of a major new higher education and cultural district on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Olympic Park

UCL is currently consulting with staff and partners on the nature of activities that might be based away from its Bloomsbury base, while the Government's plans would potentially see UCL and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) build new sites adjacent to the Stratford waterfront.

Options under consideration include a new centre for culture and heritage, a design school, a new biotech hub and an educational technology centre, as well as a space for entrepreneurs.

"Exploring the establishment of a major new presence on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is hugely exciting for UCL," said Professor Steve Caddick, UCL  Vice Provost for Enterprise and lead on the Olympic Park project at UCL.

"East London has become a vibrant and dynamic place to live, work and start a business and we're keen to do all we can to help accelerate the area's growth and development by establishing a presence there.

"Investing in the Olympic Park has the potential to provide UCL with an unmatched opportunity to explore a whole new programme of activities - especially in areas involving collaboration with other organisations.

"We will be very actively exploring development of new partnerships with other universities, with business and industry and with cultural institutions and charities to establish East London as the global hotspot for enterprise, innovation, research and education. To those organisations who are interested in working with us, I say - get in touch.

"It is also vital that UCL's presence is part of - and enriches - local communities in East London. As soon as we can we will be exploring options to work with the local community to offer cultural and business opportunities for residents, with the aim of improving quality of life and the economic prospects of the area for the long-term."


Image: London 2012 Olympics Park Stratford London by Gary Bembridge (Flickr: Creative Commons Licensed Content)


Links:
Government infrastructure plan

Provost's View: Our position in London