Work Begins on University of Nottingham's New Castle Meadow Campus

The University of Nottingham has commenced work on its new Castle Meadow Campus, transforming a cluster of listed buildings into a hub for its business school and technology showcase, including AI and robotics. Purchased from HMRC in 2021, the campus is set to officially open next year.

The seven-building site, previously occupied by HMRC since 1994, is undergoing significant renovations. The Central Building is currently being refurbished by Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson, featuring a new tensile fabric roof and a mezzanine level with a glazed roof light. The 20-week project aims for a spring 2025 completion.

Professor Jane Norman, provost and deputy vice-chancellor for the University of Nottingham, stated:

"Castle Meadow Campus will have its own buzzing identity, thanks to its city centre location, and will be a celebration of digital innovation and collaboration with local industry and community alike. We take our responsibility as custodians of this landmark site incredibly seriously and aim to deliver a bold vision for CMC, while still respecting and honouring some of the city’s most iconic buildings."

Adrian Grocock, managing director at G F Tomlinson, commented:

"We're pleased to be building on our long-standing working relationship with the University of Nottingham to bring this landmark Central Building at Castle Meadow Campus to fruition. The team has worked extensively to plan intricate works for the unique building and roof design, drawing upon our specialisms and expertise.

The city centre campus is a shining example of how the city can retrofit existing buildings to create sustainable modern facilities, and the Central Building works will maximise the current building's potential to become a landmark social and commercial city hub."

The 32,500 square-meter campus will host thousands of post-graduate students and local businesses, with the university's business school relocating in 2026. The site exemplifies sustainable retrofitting of existing structures, promising to become a landmark social and commercial hub in Nottingham's city centre.