Masterplan

The Heslington East masterplan

A masterplan provides an overall structure and vision for a long-term development such as Heslington East that is based on an organisation's aims. The components of a Masterplan typically involve guiding principles or values. It helps direct future decisions.

Our masterplan

The purpose of the Heslington East masterplan is to allow the University to establish the character of the site as a whole. This will then guide the development of the site for the foreseeable future.

• Heslington East Masterplan (PDF , 206kb)

1960s principles

1960s original masterplan principles

The intention is for the expanded campus to have a coherent identity overall so it is essential that it is based on a series of design principles common to both Heslington West and East.

When developing the masterplan for the expansion site, the University therefore examined the principles behind the 1960s masterplan which delivered the existing campus. These shared principles will allow a series of themes or threads to develop which will bind the two campus sites into a single fully functional University.

Our development and values

The themes and principles outlined below were set out in the original 1962 development plan, and continue to be among the University's key values:

• A high-quality landscape setting
• A sense of informality
• A system of covered paths and informal routes
• A large lake
• A predominantly car-free environment with priority being given to pedestrian and cycle movements
• The integration of activities – academic, social and residential – represented in the concept and physical structure of a college.

In providing continuity with the original plan, these themes remain key organising themes of the University.

Rationale

Rationale

World-class reputation and widening participation

The University is a top ranked institution worldwide, but it is also a small university. We need to grow to sustain our international position, to compete effectively, to maintain our high ranking status, to drive the local and regional economy and to meet the national higher education agenda. At stake are the University’s contribution to the economy, our excellent academic reputation, and the need to widen participation in higher education.

The University aims to sustain our high ranking position amongst UK universities, and increase our international profile. The University's research is world-class. Leading researchers from all over the world want to come here, and the University needs to provide wide-ranging and high-class facilities for them.

Academic departments

Each academic department will grow or consolidate in order to retain or achieve top-ten status in its own subject area. Student demand for places at York is already high, with ten applications for every place, and the introduction of new subjects, such as Law and Theatre, Film and Television, means that student numbers will continue to grow.

Higher education for all

The founding of the University in 1963 was itself a response to demand for better access to higher education for all. This principle, coupled with the highest quality degree-level education, has been critical to York’s success. We have a higher proportion of state-educated students than any other leading University. Increased student places and the recent introduction of more vocational subjects, such as medicine and law, will offer the opportunity for more people to study at York.

Regional strategy and economy

The University also plays a part in the regional strategy and makes a major contribution to the local economy.

The development of the University's west campus is constrained by the planning condition that restricts the area that can be built upon to 20% of the land area. With the development that has taken place over the past few years it has reached full capacity. The success of the University to date has been in no small part the campus environment created by this low development density, which we will seek to replicate on our expansion site at Heslington East.

The campus extension will eventually result in a 50 per cent increase in total student numbers, from the baseline of 10,000. It will create 2,000 new jobs at the University and a further 2,500 related jobs. In area terms, the full development will effectively double the size of the existing campus.

Design principles

Key design principles for the 21st century

In addition to the continuity of the key principles of the original 1960s master plan, the University will also seek to embrace the following key principles: