Councillors have unanimously backed plans to build a new 'social sciences quarter' at the University of Warwick.

At last Tuesday's (August 15) Warwick District Council (WDC) meeting, members approved the outline application for up to 32,000sqm of 'education floorspace' to bring the faculty all under one roof.

Exact drawings and details for the development will now be submitted through a second 'reserved matters' application.

And members also voted unanimously to ask the relevant council officers to make sure the detailed plans are also brought before the committee to be discussed.

"I think it is great to see the university step up and make this kind of investment," said Cllr Andrew Day.

"The university plays a very important role in our local economy and future prosperity.

"I am also encouraged by the development happening on our side of the line (council boundary), those who do business rates will appreciate that as well. It is good news, let's not be squeamish about that.

"My main concern is that if no one objects to what comes forward, this matter will not come back, quite probably, to the planning committee. I think that is fundamentally wrong. 

"As a matter of principle, what we are agreeing is a blank sheet of paper, albeit with a lot of excellent conditions. I am not satisfied that we are properly discharging our responsibility as a planning committee with regard to our local plan and emerging policies."

If approved the building would sit at the junction of Gibbet Hill Road and Westwood Heath Road (image via planning application)

The application said the project would see the 14 social sciences departments all brought together at the site around the junction of Gibbet Hill Road and Westwood Heath Road, as they are currently scattered across the campus.

The plans promise the scheme will "deliver a highly sustainable, low carbon building" for the "new front door to the campus".

The quarter forms the next phase of the university's campus strategy to 2030, having recently opened the new faculty of arts building, arts centre and the biomedical research building at the Gibbet Hill campus. 

District planners had recommended the scheme go ahead.

"Having regard to all the possible impacts of the proposed development, in relation to visual and landscape impacts, the setting of heritage assets, residential amenity, highway safety and traffic, drainage, ecology, sustainability measures and air quality, officers are satisfied that the site can accommodate the proposed quantum of development without causing demonstrable harm to the aforementioned matters," a council report said.

A piece of art in memory of Coventry-born Sir Frank Whittle and aerospace engineer Sir George Cox, will need to be moved elsewhere on campus as part of the project.

See the full plans here.