Leeds Students’ Union to be Upgraded

The University of Leeds has been granted full planning permission from Leeds City Council for a £20 million transformation of its students’ union. Modification work is likely to begin later this year. In order to ensure the union remains functional, the project will be carried out in three phases, minimising disruption to students.

The plans include a refurbishment of the Riley Smith conference hall, the construction of a southern entrance at the back of the building, and the addition of a conservatory to the roof terrace bar. It will provide a covered seating area in the winter months, and be opened up in the summer for students to enjoy the sunshine (or rain, as the case may be).

The union currently covers approximately 130,000 sq ft within four interconnected buildings, providing a range of facilities, including bars, a nightclub, offices, and performance venue theatres.

The plans also include the development of a new arts quarter and a full refurbishment of the underground Raven theatre.

The final phase of the project is due for completion two years from now, in August 2017.

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