University buildings shut over structural concerns

Scaffolding has appeared around the Bennett Building - as seen from the edge of Victoria Park

Two buildings on a university campus have been shut after concerns were raised over their structures, it has been revealed.

The University of Leicester's Bennett and Physics buildings, next to the city's Victoria Park, have been closed after it was found they need major repairs.

They will be closed for "at least" two years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

The university has assured students there is enough space on campus to ensure "all lectures, practical classes, study groups and research activities will remain face-to-face".

In the series of emails sent to staff members in mid-July - seen by the LDRS and the BBC on Thursday - the university said the closures were sparked by concerns about the condition of the structures of both buildings.

These concerns relate to "concrete degradation and corrosion of steel reinforcement supporting the building", the emails said.

The university's Adrian Building was already closed to students

They said the closures would "be felt across all university schools and departments", with timetabling staff "working on a major overhaul of nearly every programme across the university".

A spokesperson for the university said: "The final costs of the work are not known yet, and will become clear once the building has been vacated and further investigation work is undertaken.

"The university will realign its existing capital budgets to cover the costs."

Another building on the campus - the Adrian Building - which faces University Road, was already scheduled to close ahead of the start of the academic year in September.

The university said it was earmarked for closure "some time ago" and therefore would not be repaired.

Additional reporting by Hannah Richardson, Local Democracy Reporter

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