At a meeting held on February 14, the University of Bath’s Senate has decided to recommend to the University's Council that the University should withdraw from the Gateway project in Swindon.

This recommendation will form the main item of business when Council meets on 1 March 2007. Only the University Council has the power to make this decision.

The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell, said: “In embarking on a large scale project, with a long lead in time, there is always a risk that key factors may change as the project plan develops.

“Senate concluded that two recent changes, one at a national level and one at a local level, call into question the viability of delivering the University's long held vision of an iconic, new campus in Swindon.

“At national level, the Government's priorities for the future development of higher education are shifting towards increased opportunities for study whilst in the workplace. Universities are therefore being encouraged to adopt radical new approaches to undergraduate education.

“Our vision for Gateway was of a traditional campus which would fill the provision gap that exists in Swindon and Wiltshire. We now think that a new campus of this nature would not fit the Government's expansion priorities and there may be other ways to do the job.

"In addition, locally, the revised Masterplan for the Gateway site, presented to us by the developers Persimmon and Redrow last November, requires a density of development that it is inconsistent with our original campus model.

“Clearly, the University now needs to have the widest consultation possible before Council meets. There will be further discussion internally and externally over the next few weeks. Senate was aware other information may emerge during that time and recommended that it should be given appropriate consideration.”

The University has worked closely with Swindon Borough Council over ten years to develop higher education in Swindon.  It already supports a range of successful initiatives at its existing Oakfield Campus.  Last year we had 1,061 registrations on our part-time education courses, and is are currently delivering undergraduate education for 54 students at Oakfield and providing courses, in collaboration with local further education colleges, for some 284 students in Swindon and Wiltshire.

Other initiatives include the Small Business Hub, the Swindon Innovation Centre, the Western Vocational Lifelong Learning Network and the Swindon SCITT (School-centred initial teacher training).

The University has said that it will continue to engage with Swindon Borough Council about the development of higher education in the town and remains committed to the work that it does at the Oakfield Campus.

A press statement, issued by DPDS Consulting Group on behalf of Persimmon Special Projects Western and Redrow Homes South West, said that: “Partnership representatives say that they are still firmly on track to deliver a new university campus on the site, as part of a wider development for new homes, an extension to Great Western Hospital and a business park, because there is widespread interest in the site from other universities.”

Persimmon director Paul Davis, said: “While we are disappointed that the University of Bath are considering withdrawing, we are aware that a number of other universities are very interested in this site and might well be willing to participate if Bath pull out.”

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