University of Northampton opens £330m Waterside Campus

BBC Waterside Campus, Northampton.BBC
The University of Northampton has transformed wasteland by the River Nene

The University of Northampton's new £330m Waterside Campus has welcomed its first students.

The campus was built on a site by the River Nene which used to house derelict buildings including the old Northampton power station.

It has taken four years to build and replaces two former campuses.

About 12,000 students and 2,000 staff are based there, but the university says there is room for more buildings to increase capacity in future.

An old, Victorian rail shed has been turned into a new student union building.
An old Victorian rail shed has been turned into a new student union building
Learning hub at the University of Northampton.
The development replaces the university's two former campuses
The Creative Hub houses the university's arts courses.
The Creative Hub houses the university's arts courses
Nursing student Lauretta Ofulue.
Student Lauretta Ofulue says the campus has a "serene" atmosphere

Nursing student Lauretta Ofulue said: "I think it looks beautiful. The environment and atmosphere are so calm and serene.

"I think it's interesting that, in such a bustling place, we can have somewhere as beautiful as this built so close to the town centre."

Drone footage of Waterside Campus, Northampton, being built in October 2017.
The development, seen here in October 2017, took four years to complete