THE University of Sussex has been given the green light for a major expansion after the Planning Inspectorate granted their appeal.

The university has been given permission to build more than 4000 student rooms and add 60,000 square feet of teaching space to their Falmer campus after the original rejection by Brighton and Hove City Council was overturned.

The decision, which will help accommodate the university’s ambitions to expand by around a third to 18,000 students within three years, follows a planning inquiry held in the city at the start of the month.

The scheduled eight day inquiry was cut short after the city council withdrew its opposition as its chances of defending its original rejection back in July last year, which was supported by 11 out of the committee’s 12 councillors, narrowed.

Planning Inspector Ken Barton indicated to the city council’s legal team during the inquiry that he was unlikely to uphold the authority’s view of the application as harmful overdevelopment which was among the authority's four grounds for refusal.

New information was then provided by the university on the number and type of trees to be removed which had also been a reason for refusal while new Government guidelines produced after the planning committee’s decision made clear the city council had a responsibility to plan for sufficient student accommodation within the city.

The final nail in the coffin for the council’s defence came when the university made clear that they would expand even if the planning application was rejected which council officers decided would create an even greater impact on housing availability in the city.

The city council could have faced a £250,000 legal bill had it not withdrawn its opposition, council officers revealed after the inquiry.

Despite the council’s withdrawal, the planning inspector went away to consider the evidence already submitted during the six days of inquiry and opposition from residents and resident groups to the expansion plans who claimed further university expansion would have a serious impact on the city’s housing stock.

In a letter sent out today, Mr Barton confirmed the appeal had been allowed.

John Duffy, registrar of the University of Sussex, said: “We welcome the Planning Inspector’s decision to approve the university’s masterplan proposal and are pleased both the inspector and Brighton and Hove City Council agree on the merits of our plans to modernise our campus.

“The university has taken great care to ensure our masterplan is sympathetic to the architectural heritage and unique landscape of the campus, and over many years, we have gone to significant effort to preserve and enhance these features so that current and future generations can enjoy these surroundings. 

“The careful development of our Falmer campus will allow us to provide a better education and experience for our students, whilst delivering substantial investment and more jobs in Sussex and the wider region.

“Over many decades, we have maintained a strong relationship with the council and we will continue to engage with them constructively on the evolution of the campus. 

"We also look forward to working together with local residents and businesses to listen to their views and ensure that we create a modern university that will benefit the whole of Brighton and Hove.”