New Peterborough university to teach sports degrees as student union planned

The third teaching building at ARU Peterborough is planned to open in 2027 and teach areas covered by sport, such as science, coaching, psychology and analytics.

This would be the fifth premises on the site by the Embankment which is also due to host two research centres, one of which will have 3D printing company Photocentric as its anchor.

According to the latest plans, the first teaching facility on the Wirrina Car Park - where works have begun - will open to an initial cohort of 2,000 students in 2022, with courses including: creative and digital, environmental management, engineering and health and social care.

The second teaching building is due to open in September 2024 with courses including: law, architecture, biochemistry and robotics, while the third will include the new sports courses.

Once fully established, three centres of excellence will be set up.

These will be in:

. Health, social care, education, management and finance and law

. Environmental management, biochemistry, engineering and robotics

. Sports, art and design, creative and digital and architecture.

Moreover, the second building will contain a student union.

Once fully established the technical university is due to educate 12,500 students by 2030, with many studying and developing their skills off campus.

The university, which will be run by Anglia Ruskin for at least the first decade, will also seek to offers Master’s degrees and professional doctorates.

The student union has previously been earmarked for the Embankment with accommodation, restaurants, nightclubs and bars, on top of further evening entertainment by the river.

Peterborough United’s proposed new stadium is also expected to be built nearby, while there is due to be a bridge linking the green space to the nearby Fletton Quays development.