University plans £130m redevelopment of Finsbury site

City University is planning a major transformation with a £130m redevelopment of its buildings.

The centrepiece of the scheme will be a new landmark building in Sebastian Street, Finsbury.

With lecture theatres and study spaces, it will act as a research hub for the university’s postgraduate students – who make up more than a third of the student body.

Professor Richard Verrall, a vice-chancellor at the university in Northampton Square, Finsbury, said: “The university is committing significant investment to build new facilities to meet the changing nature of education and research, creating high-quality academic and social spaces.

“It will result in an environment of which staff, students and the local community can be justifiably proud.”

The planned development, which was unveiled at a public consultation meeting in Finsbury Library, St John Street, includes moving the students’ union from Goswell Road to Spencer Street, Finsbury, and installing acoustic glazing – which should reduce the amount nearby residents are disturbed by noisy students.

There are also proposals to improve the pedestrian link between Spencer Street and Northampton Square, and to build a teaching building off Ashby Street, which will include a hospital ward, X-ray suites, speech and language laboratories and optometry labs.

The university, which is already building a sports centre in Goswell Road, intends to submit a planning application to Islington Council in July.