Sustainability Matters 2025

This is the third time I have written this blog, and, after the recent changes made as part of the new Target Operating Model, it is pleasing to be able to report that people continue to think about environmental sustainability and specifically how to achieve the vision set out in our Environmental Sustainability Strategic Framework, first developed in 2022.

Visit our Sustainability web pages to learn about our targets and our progress to date.

Here are some of the highlights from the last twelve months.

If you have visited our Leek Road site at Stoke-on-Trent recently, you will have seen the amazing progress which is being made on the construction site for the Student Village. The University signed a contract on 4 July 2024 with Staffordshire Campus Living – an organisation jointly owned by the University, Hochtief and Plenary – which has been created specifically to develop the new Student Village, due to open in Autumn 2026. Featuring 1,000 new and upgraded student rooms, at its heart is the Hub, a cutting-edge social and study space, featuring sustainable timber-framed construction, high-performance glazed facades, and intelligent energy management systems.

A self-financed solar power model, the first of its kind in UK student accommodation, significantly will reduce grid energy reliance, reinforcing the University’s commitment to sustainability. Any excess renewable energy will be exported to the rest of the Stoke-on-Trent campus, bringing further benefits to the University.

As soon as the Village is operational, in Autumn 2026, we will be turning our attention to creating a unique green parklands space in the centre of the Stoke-on-Trent campus – demolishing the existing student accommodation to make way for an area which will complement the nearby Nature Reserve and increase the overall biodiversity of the Student Village site by 13% - exceeding the 10% target required for any new development.

This time last year, I was able to update you that the University’s Catalyst building had been shortlisted for a West Midlands Regional Award 2024. The awards recognise outstanding architecture across the region, celebrating projects that demonstrate innovation and contribute positively to their communities. Sadly, the Catalyst didn’t go on to win any of the awards last year, but we were very proud when the Woodlands Day Nursery was nominated for the 2025 awards.

I’m pleased to tell you that the Nursery not only won one of the five Regional Awards, but also took home the ‘Sustainability Award’ and the University was named ‘Client of the Year’. This was a special moment for everyone in the University who had worked with architects FCBStudios to create, maintain and operate such a unique and sustainable building.

In the coming twelve months, we plan to focus on reducing our energy consumption, and therefore our carbon emissions, throughout the rest of our Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford campuses, with new initiatives to reduce electricity consumption from non-renewable sources. We also hope to have a big announcement about a city-wide project in Stoke-on-Trent to reduce carbon emissions, partnering with some other major employers in the area. We will update you when we have more details.