THREE town centre buildings look set to be revamped and made into accommodation for hundreds of students, it can be revealed today.Though yet to be named, the buildings will be refurbished and used as student accommodation for the new university when the first students arrive in September 2007.

THREE town centre buildings look set to be revamped and made into accommodation for hundreds of students, it can be revealed today.

Though yet to be named, the buildings will be refurbished and used as student accommodation for the new university when the first students arrive in September 2007.

James Hehir, chief executive at Ipswich Borough Council, said planning permission is due to be submitted by developers within the next few weeks.

He said: "We are a long way down the line in discussions to provide student

accommodation in two or three sites in the centre of Ipswich."

Mr Hehir said he was unable to say exactly which buildings will be done up as discussions are still ongoing.

He added: "The sites are not in the education quarter but are within walking distance to the campus. We hope to have the student accommodation in place by the middle of next year."

Mr Hehir said plans for the UCS are well under way.

He said: "The closing date for the UCS chief executive has passed and an appointment is expected in mid-October.

"St Giles House and St Paul's House will be demolished by the end of the year to make way for the new Suffolk College and St Edmund's House has been bought by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), to be leased back to Suffolk County council for the next three years."

Mr Hehir said the whole Ipswich waterfront was going through a number of changes.

He said: "The land has been cleared ready for the UCS project and the pace of development there is incredible.

"This is an exciting time for the UCS project. UCS will change the landscape of Ipswich forever and have a very positive effect on the town."

What do you think about the UCS project? Will you be considering studying at the new campus? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

ONE of the largest schemes of its kind in the UK University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is due to open its doors to students in September 2007.

Costing and estimated £150million over the next ten years UCS was handed a £15 million kick-start in February by the Higher Education Funding Council For England (HEFCE).

Land has already been set aside for the project and UCS, plus a new Suffolk College, will create an 'education quarter' stretching from Rope Walk to the Ipswich Waterfront.

A partnership lead by the universities of East Anglia and Essex, the UCS project is supported by Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council. There will also be substantial private sector investment in the scheme.

N UCS is expected to be worth £1 million a week to the Ipswich economy.

N UCS will include the Ipswich campus and a number of linked centres in other Suffolk towns. This county-wide campus will be known as the Suffolk Learning Centres.

N The total cost of the scheme is expected to be £150million over ten years. Phase one is expected to cost £75m.

N In November 2004 Suffolk County Council pledged £13m towards buying land for the project.

N The plans include halls of residence for students and car parking.

Weblinks www.suffolk.ac.uk www.ucs.ac.uk