Defence Online

The University of Leeds has given the seal of approval to proposed plans to create a £96m Centre for Engineering and Physical Sciences on the north eastern part of campus. The project, the largest, single-project investment ever to have been made on campus, was approved by the council, the university’s governing body, earlier this month (October 2016). It is proposed that the new 169,000 sq ft centre will bring together schools in the Faculty of Engineering, with those in Physical Sciences, involving the relocation of the Schools of Computing and Physics and Astronomy. Areas of research include energy efficient computing, telecommunications, sustainable magnetic materials, sensors for use in biological systems and extreme or remote environments, pharmaceutical formulations, ‘smart foods’ and medical technologies. The facility will include first-class laboratory and specialised teaching spaces, enabling cutting-edge research, and outstanding student experience, while enhancing the university’s research power and strengthening collaboration with industry.A university spokesman said it was also “great news” for the region, with the investment “further strengthening the university’s ability to attract major research funding with a consequential impact on the Leeds City Region economy”.