Chinese investor buys Staffordshire University campus

The 50-acre site at Weston Road will still be used for 'education purposes' but no details have emerged as to exactly what the plans for the campus are.

Contracts have been agreed between the university and the Asian backer with the deal expected to go be completed in November.

At the moment the campus is housing technology students who will continue there until the summer before being transferred to Stoke.

The University has confirmed that its nearby campus at Blackheath Lane, which accommodates around 1,500 nursing, midwifery and professional health students, will stay.

Around £4million will be spent making that site self sufficient including providing a library to replace the one which will be lost at Beaconside.

Margaret Monckton, deputy chief executive at the university said: "Our legacy is important to us and the proposed uses for Beaconside are absolutely in line with that.

"It means that the site is retained for education and it brings a new international employer into Stafford.

"We remain committed to Stafford and are currently investing £4m in creating a self-contained Centre of Excellence for our highly rated nursing, midwifery and professional health courses at our Blackheath Lane site."

Staffordshire County Council had submitted a bid to purchase the campus and turn it into a science and business park.

Despite the failed attempt Councillor Philip Atkins, leader on the authority, welcomed the sale.

He said: "This is very welcome news for Stafford and our wider Staffordshire economy and presents us with more fresh opportunities. Closer links with China and their growing economy is good news and in particular that they have chosen Stafford for their educational investment."

Other politicians in the county also backed the move.

Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy said: "I am very supportive of the site being used for educational purposes.

"Stafford is increasingly becoming a town that welcomes international partners and clearly the UK is very keen on closer ties with China.

"I'm aware of concerns over the closure of Beaconside Sports Centre on the site but look forward to working with the investor to benefit the public of Stafford."

While borough council boss Patrick Farrington added: "I am delighted with the proposed use and the retention of the site which will be a real benefit to Stafford and the wider community. I am looking forward to discussions with the new owners in the coming months and to welcoming them to our Borough."

University spokeswoman Maria Scrivens said they had been requested by the unknown Chinese investor not to reveal their identity or elaborate on the plans for Beaconside at this stage.

She added the new owner would likely be made public in the next two months.

The sale is the latest link between the University and the far-east.

Staffordshire University has enjoyed a partnership with China for more than 20 years.

It has also opened a China Centre at partner institution GIST (Global Institute of Software Technology) in Suzhou which delivers Staffordshire University business and computing programmes.

It is the first of several international centres chiefs hope to launch.

The new Asian owner is not the first to invest in Staffordshire education.

Chase Grammar was purchased by Chinese-backed by Achieve Education in 2014 which saw the school open an office in Shanghai.

While, in a further link between the county and the far east 20 Chinese delegates recently visited Stafford College to learn more about vocational education in the UK.

Ian Clinton, interim principal at Stafford College, said: "It is fantastic to see the college being recognised as a leader of vocational education in the UK.

"We spent the day sharing our knowledge and experiences within education and we were both able to develop a better understanding of practices across the world."