Uni campus delayed by human remains set to open

The University of Gloucestershire is transforming the former Debenhams store in the city centre

A university's vice chancellor has "no regrets" over transforming a former department store into a campus, despite delays caused by a Roman burial site.

Work to turn Gloucester's old Debenhams into a University of Gloucestershire campus is running a year late and has gone £16m over budget.

Rising costs and the archaeological discoveries on the site have caused the delays, and the campus is now due to open next summer to welcome students in September 2025.

"It’s going to be some a game changer for Gloucester, but also Gloucestershire and the region," Clare Marchant, vice chancellor, said.

The university bought the former department store building in 2021 after the high street chain collapsed.

The work is being funded by Levelling Up money from the previous government.

Keeping the new campus on track is one of the first things Clare Marchant had to deal with after taking up the post of Vice Chancellor in September 2023.

Despite the discoveries causing delays, Ms Marchant said the new campus is "on track" for a summer 2025 opening.

Ms Marchant said "massive progress" has been happening on the site

"Nothing is guaranteed in the world of construction, but we are on track at the moment," she said.

"Even going around today, I can see massive progress from where we were just three or four weeks ago."

Ms Marchant said there was never any question of pulling the plug on the project.

“Absolutely no regrets at all." she said.

Archaeologists have found more discoveries dating back to Roman times, including a series of streets and parts of Roman buildings.

More than 250 sets of human remains in an old burial site were discovered, with some dating back 1000 years.

“As well as a medieval and then later church, we are finding burials as part of a burial ground in the courtyard," said Mr Bateman, senior project manager at Cotswold Archaeology.

"Most of them are medieval in date, but we do have a series of brick vaults which date from the 19th century."

Remains will be examined once work is finished, and the Church of England has agreed for the remains to be reburied on consecrated land elsewhere in Gloucester.