Transform BSU
Transforming your campus
The next chapter March 2025
Creative, Curious and Confident minds need places and spaces to inspire them and that’s why Bath Spa University is embarking on its most exciting and innovative campus development project to date, to transform where you live, work, create, study, enjoy, think, rest and thrive.
In 2025, BSU celebrates its 20th anniversary as a university, and our buildings, grounds and facilities have changed almost beyond recognition over the past two decades. But we are not stopping there.
Just like our students, we have big ambitions, and this latest chapter in our campus development story is creating the very best environment across all our sites, for our students, staff, and wider community. This transformation will be our biggest yet – and we've made great progress with some projects already completed.
Transform BSU
The project will ensure BSU has state-of-the-art facilities across all our faculties, combined with community and social spaces to enable our students and staff to connect with one other.
This investment will allow us to preserve our significant heritage, reduce our carbon footprint, improve our academic and social facilities, and develop new and modern aspects to our campuses. All of this with the backdrop of some of the most beautiful grounds of any university in the UK, with everything you need to live, work, study and play.
Work is in progress with some of our key projects already completed. Our investment in our estate is an investment in your future, where our students will be at the very heart of every decision we make.
"Our students will be at the real heart of our spaces and places"
Professor Becky Schaaf, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience, explains:
"Part of the Transform BSU vision is to create a vibrant heart in each campus, as well as ensuring we have the right spaces in the right places for our present and future students.
We are investing to ensure that our facilities are state-of-the-art, enabling our students to develop all the career-ready skills they need to face the challenges of the modern world, while being supported by dedicated, specialist staff."
Liz Eyles, Director of Campus Life, adds:
“This transformational programme highlights BSU’s commitment to confidently and creatively invest in the future of students.
Creating the very possible student experience is at the heart of our estates investment and vision and we are looking forward to developing our spaces further to ensure that we create a welcoming, inclusive and flexible environment for our whole student and staff community.”
The transformation is underway
If you visit our campuses today, you'll see significant improvements already completed - some more visible than others. Some work continues into 2025.
This page will be a hub of information to keep up to date with the latest developments, get in touch with us to ask questions, and have the chance to have your say in our regular and ongoing consultations.
Completed work
Campus: Newton Park
We are excited to announce the completion of the new Compton music studios.
The brand-new state of the art music facilities provides students with hands-on experience using the latest industry-standard equipment. The new rooms will also increase space for live rehearsals and provide additional ‘production pods’ for editing and mixing.
Campus: Newton Park
We have relocated the shop to a more central location in the middle of the campus, adjacent to the refectory. This is in line with our aim to create a more centrally focused hub on campus.
Its new, central location is more convenient for all our student and staff community, with a broader range of provisions for sale following consultation with students, and is also planned to be open for prolonged hours from 8am-8pm.
The transfer to the new location went smoothly and change has been a big hit with staff and students. We would welcome feedback on the goods for sale here.
The Interval is open and operational, and is aligned with our aim to create a vibrant space for staff and students.
Campus: Newton Park
We have made improvements to some areas of the Michael Tippett Centre, including the refresh and redecoration of teaching and rehearsal rooms.
Further refurbishments are planned.
Campus: Newton Park
Over the summer the rooms within the Ashton Dance and Drama facilities have been refurbished ready for the start of the new academic year.
This included some redecoration work. We also installed air conditioning into the two studios (Ashton Dance studio and Ashton Drama studio), adding new curtains and screens to studio spaces.
This refurbishment has been further enhanced with the addition of retractable seating in the drama studio.
Campus: Newton Park
Over the summer, various rooms in Stanton have been refurbished to improve the teaching facilities
Campuses: Newton Park, Locksbrook and Sion Hill
In addition, work has taken place over the summer to upgrade and enhance some of our teaching facilities in Newton Park, Locksbrook and Sion Hill
Campus: Newton Park
The laundry facilities have also had an overhaul.
New machines, using a dosing system for detergent which supports our value of sustainability, have been installed. Redecoration of the laundry rooms has been completed, and we have negotiated to keep the costs the same for this service
In Hiscocks we have redecorated and recarpeted 82 bedrooms, and in Gardens we have redecorated 561 bedrooms, 57 kitchens and stairwells, and recarpeted 280 bedrooms.
Campuses: Newton Park
To improve our meeting and teaching rooms, a significant project took place last summer to update our Audio-Visual technology at Newton Park.
Our new state-of-the-art audio system will enable anyone in a room to access the mic audio, including transcription and translation, through an app on their personal device.
The audio system and touch screens, together with new interactive tools from MS365 and Mentimeter, will open up the potential for more inclusive, active and student-centred learning design.
We've prioritised intuitive use and continuity from our previous AV system, whilst also bringing in an updated and more effective system.
Campuses: Newton Park
An exciting new teaching space for Forensic Science related courses has been created that will enable our students to have experience of crime scene investigation, performing techniques such as recording evidence, taking swab samples (of blood, for example), taking photographs, and analysing behaviour.
Campuses: Newton Park
A mock court room has been created that will give our LLB (Hons) Law students more opportunities to learn in a court room setting. This facility is a great addition to The Bath Law Clinic, which was founded by Bath Spa University, Stone King LLP and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Campuses: Newton Park and Locksbrook
Digital maps have been added to Commons and at Locksbrook, with external screens by the Library and the Dairy nearing completion. The screens will benefit students, staff and visitors to our campuses.
Ongoing work
Here are the key projects we're working on.
Campus: Newton Park
New secure cycle storage with bike racks are being installed, adjacent to the showers and changing rooms.
Campus: Newton Park
A refurbished laboratory space with brand new safety and testing equipment to support the culturing of cells that will enhance students learning opportunities on the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and BSc (Hons) Biology programmes.
A fashion retail store and community space focused on sustainable design, opening this spring on Bartlett Street in Bath’s historic shopping area.
Somer will showcase products designed and made by BSU students and alumni and support them to grow their businesses in an authentic high-street environment. T
he store will also showcase other local, sustainable brands and ethically produced fashion as well as host workshops and events with fashion-industry professionals.
Read more about the Somer Store.
Future plans
We're currently in a planning phase, considering the feasibility of projects to continue our commitment to creating a vibrant heart in each campus and ensuring we have the right spaces in the right places for our present and future students.
In particular we're considering opportunities to improve the sports and wellbeing facilities for our students and staff.
Get in touch
If you'd like to share your thoughts with us, please complete our feedback form.