Proposals submitted for new sports university facility at MediaCity
Developer Peel L&P has submitted plans to create a major hub at MediaCity for The University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and the Global Institute for Sport (GIS).
They plan to transform commercial space in Quay Plaza, part of Quayside MediaCity, on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, into a specialist, sports media, communications, and broadcasting teaching hub.
As a provider of undergraduate and Master’s degree programmes and executive education in the football and sports industry in the UK, the change of use across four floors, from the ground to the fourth floor, spanning almost 11,000 sq ft, will specialise in the teaching of sports media, communications, and broadcasting degrees.
The new facility, next to the Millennium Bridge and overlooking Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, will include several lecture and seminar rooms, as well as a study lounge and staff facilities with the capacity for up to 410 staff and students at any one time with up to a further 1,000 students able to use the building for timetabled classes.
Starting at Turf Moor, Burnley in 2011, and relocating to Manchester in 2016, UCFB and GIS has grown year on year, with developments in London, Manchester, Miami, Melbourne and now MediaCity in Salford.
Stephen Wild, managing director for MediaCity, said: “Quay Plaza will provide a fantastic and inspirational base for UCFB’s sports media, communications, and broadcasting students.
“The BBC, ITV and dock10 are right on its doorstep as well as other educational establishments at MediaCity such as The University of Salford and University Technical College and will help secure the next generation of talent here at MediaCity.”
Brendan Flood, chairman and CEO of UCFB and GIS, said: “MediaCity is one of the world’s leading Media and Tech hubs, and we are incredibly excited to announce our plans to create an exciting new destination for our students.
“We look forward to working with Peel L&P, Salford City Council and the MediaCity family to bring these plans forward, enabling the development of the next generation of talent for the region.”
