Morgan Sindall to build Bournemouth’s new “visual gateway”

It is working in partnership with Bournemouth University on the flagship development to Bournemouth University in the Lansdowne area.

The Bournemouth Gateway building by the side of the A338 Wessex Way would house the university’s faculty of health and social sciences, which trains health workers and social workers.

The university has submitted a planning application for the structure, which it says would be on the most prominent arrival site in Bournemouth for those travelling by car or rail.

The building would provide around 10,000sqm of new academic space and would be used by 4,000 students from the faculty, which is currently spread over several buildings on Christchurch Road.

The faculty trains nurses, midwives and paramedics, along with other health professionals and researchers. It also houses National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work.

Jon Daines, area director at Morgan Sindall, said: “The university’s ongoing investment in its campus will provide students with a great environment and ensure that the faculty of health and social sciences benefits from a modern, purpose-built facility, that provides the very best training environment for students.”

Jim Andrews, chief operating officer, said: “This new development will help us achieve our vision of providing world-class facilities for a world-class university. If we are to continue producing the midwives, nurses and social workers of the future, then we need the facilities to attract the best.

“Our staff and students contribute more than £1million a day to the south west economy and support just less than one full-time equivalent job in the local conurbation for every 7.4 students.

“For this to continue we must remain competitive and updating our facilities, such as this fantastic new academic building for our highly regarded faculty of health and social sciences, is essential to that.”

The scheme also includes parking, junctions to an adopted highway and a bus stop for students.

The project is aiming for a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) rating of “excellent” in line with the university’s and Morgan Sindall’s commitment to sustainability.

Morgan Sindall was appointed via the Southern Construction Framework, a vehicle for public bodies in the South of England to procure major building works.

It has already completed a string of high-profile buildings in the town.