The eagerly awaited development of a University in Harlow moved towards reality with the confirmation of funding from the East of England Development Agency and the Higher Education Funding Council. This now ensures that Anglia Ruskin University can now proceed with the development of the campus, in partnership with Harlow College, and the first students should be in place for the autumn term of 2011.
Harlow Renaissance has worked with its partners to lobby for this funding and we are delighted that Harlow will now see the University development take place. Alongside the re-development of the town centre this is a major boost for the town and will provide significant opportunities for local people and businesses.
The nw building will provide a 96 seat lecture theatre and a variety of different sized teaching, IT and study areas. The top floor of the new building will be the new home of the College's nationally renowned Centre of Journalism, and will contain a news room, design area and radio studio. The widely recognised School of Journalism, which has operated for many years, includes Piers Morgan, Michael Buerk, Andrew Morton, Sue Lawley and Kate Adie as alumnae.
Construction work is now underway and should be completed by the summer of 2011. The work will also include a significant upgrade to the entrance to the College site so that it presents a more appropriate entry from Velizy Avenue. Harlow Reniassance has also facilitated discussion between the university's architects working on the Town Centre North development to ensure that complementary developments are produced.
Harlow Renaissance has also worked with Anglia Ruskin University and Harlow Council to look at the potential for the development of a cultural offer within the ARU programme in Harlow to build on the strong arts and cultural heritage of the town. We jointly commissioned Tom Fleming Associates to produce a study of Harlow's cultural assets and how culture and creativity can be placed at the heart of planning, learning and skills and economic development. We feel that this is an important component of the town's future development and consistent with its 'Sculpture Town' status and the belief that in Harlow you can "See Something Different"
We hope that ARU, Harlow Council and other bodies use the recommendations in this report to help shape the future direction of Harlow.