PLANS for the first Scottish university campus to be built since Abertay University in 1994 have been approved and work is expected to begin on the (pounds) 50m project next spring.
More than 4000 staff and students will be based at the Queen Margaret University College (QMUC) campus at Craighall, near Musselburgh, East Lothian.
The 35-acre development was approved by the local council, but the scale of the scheme meant it could not go ahead until the Scottish Executive had agreed. Ministers have decided not to order a public inquiry into the plans, avoiding a costly delay.
The campus is expected to open in 2007 and will have modern academic facilities, a public square and woodlands. A learning resource centre, combining the latest technology and teaching resources in one building, will be central to the development.
Anthony Cohen, principal professor at the new university, said: ''That such a major development has been approved in this way is a tribute to the expertise of Queen Margaret's project team and the willingness of the community and other interested bodies to work with us to produce a crucial national and local asset.
''The design is already producing radical and innovative thinking about the spatial organisation of learning, teaching and research for the twenty-first century and will demonstrate that the creation of sustainable, environmentally intelligent buildings sensitive to our unique landscape is achievable - on budget and on time.''
The building will replace existing sites at Corstorphine and Leith and will largely be financed by a deal with Persimmon, the property developer, which will develop homes at the Corstorphine site.
Norman Murray, the leader of East Lothian Council, said: ''We are pleased the Scottish Executive saw no reason to challenge the decision of the council's planning committee to grant outline planning permission. We are continuing to discuss particular points with the developers and look forward to welcoming QMUC to East Lothian.''
The buildings will be constructed, as far as possible, from reusable materials such as wood, and they will be designed to be low on emissions, with natural ventilation. The campus will hold student residences, sports and leisure facilities, social areas, and academic buildings - all within a sustainable parkland setting.
Local residents will be urged to use the facilities, especially the learning resource centre.
Susan Deacon, MSP for Musselburgh, said: ''I am delighted that plans for the new QMUC campus are now able to progress. This is a very exciting development which I'm sure will be a real asset to Scotland and the local area.''
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