MORE details have emerged about York St John's multi-million pound expansion plans.

The university wants to build a new £15 million "Creative Centre" in York, and bosses have now confirmed the building will go on the existing Lord Mayor's Walk campus.

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A spokesman said that with faster growth in student numbers than any other university in England over the last two years, York St John is in a strong position to invest.

Rob Hickey, the university's executive director for innovation and growth said: "Building on our successful student recruitment in recent years, we’re focused on how to keep improving the experience of everybody who chooses to work and learn at York St John University."

The university has identified several projects to achieve this, which are at various stages of development.

One of those is a new state-of-the-art "Creative Centre" which univeristy bosses want to build on the Lord Mayor’s Walk campus, with performance space and contemporary teaching and study areas.

York Press:

York St John's campus on Lord Mayor's Walk

As well as facilities for students and staff, the university hopes the centre will become a cultural hub for the city and the wider region, boosting York’s creative industries and its status as the UK’s first UNESCO city of Media Arts.

Architects were appointed in December, a written statement added, and final contract negotiations are ongoing. University bosses will be talking to the city council and other partners about the project in the coming weeks.

At the same time, York St John has confirmed it wants to develop a presence in London, as it says a number of other universities based outside the capital have successfully done.

The statement said: "We are absolutely committed to giving our York-based students and staff access to experiences, networks and research opportunities that broaden their horizons and support their career aspirations.

"Alongside the partnerships we are already developing in our city, our region and internationally, this project would help us to do that, especially for our final year students as they prepare for the workplace. It will also help us to increase the reach of our expanding suite of postgraduate courses."

The London centre has the support of the university's Governing Body but is still at a very early stage, they added.

Mr Hickey added: “Together these projects demonstrate our commitment to investing in our campus, the city and the student experience here in York, alongside building the wider connections that are so important in today’s economy.

“They are bold and exciting projects and we look forward to progressing them in the months ahead, alongside the many partners that we are keen to work with.”