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UCL to consider alternatives to Carpenters for new university quarter in Stratford

8 May 2013

UCL and the London Borough of Newham (LBN) have today announced that while UCL remains committed to Stratford as the location for its new university quarter it has not been possible to reach an agreement about the Carpenters Estate.

UCL will therefore no longer be pursuing the Carpenters proposition. UCL has however reaffirmed its commitment to developing in Stratford, and Newham Council has made clear that it remains supportive of UCL's ambitions to establish a major presence in the borough. UCL's estates strategy, set out in its Bloomsbury Masterplan, outlines why the university needs to expand beyond its historic home if it is to meet demands on space and fulfil its mission as one of the world's leading universities.

Over the past year, UCL staff have contributed a wealth of ideas and useful feedback into the university's initial set of proposals. These will be used to inform and guide UCL as the university moves forward to develop a new set of proposals for a potential UCL site in Stratford.

Professor Malcolm Grant, UCL President & Provost, said: "Regrettably, UCL and LBN have not been able to bring their discussions to a successful conclusion in relation to the Carpenters Estate. This was an ambitious but extremely complex proposal and the process of intensive and lengthy examination has led us both to conclude that we cannot reach a commercial agreement.

"However, the process has re-affirmed the commitment of both parties to establishing a UCL presence in Stratford. UCL has ambitious plans for growth in the coming years as we move beyond the capacity of our central London location to meet the demand for suitable space to support the development of world-class teaching and research. We remain confident of the benefits a presence in Stratford would deliver both to UCL and the local community, and we will continue to work closely with Newham Council and other stakeholders to make this ambitious project happen."

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