A UNIVERSITY is to open a campus in Basingstoke next September.

At the borough's Cabinet meeting last week, it was agreed to lease Basingstoke's historic Chute House to King Alfred's College for an initial period of five years at a rent of £15,000 per year.

The decision means that Basingstoke residents will be able to undertake degree programmes from the specialist higher education provider, which is based in Winchester, on a local campus.

Initial programmes are likely to include a BA in management and business administration, postgraduate and undergraduate courses in performing arts, a new Masters programme in world studies, which will incorporate business and cultural studies, foundation degrees in creative industries, and early years (teaching), and mentoring.

The college principal, Professor Paul Light, said: "We hope this new initiative will appeal to all kinds of people, but especially mature learners who are probably already in employment and want to study in the day or evening.

"There are a number of ways in which we can assess and accredit people's prior learning and experience to ensure that the skills they already have are properly valued."

He added: "We want to work closely with Basingstoke College Of Technology, Queen Mary's College and schools in the area to ensure that this is a positive development for everyone in the local community.

"The college has a long relationship with Basingstoke in providing nursing training and in-service professional development provision within schools.

"However, this is the first general higher education platform and we are very excited about it."

The Chute House campus is expected to attract up to 500 students in the next four or five years. The listed building was previously occupied by a number of voluntary organisations. Basingstoke Community Transport will still be based there.

For more information, contact Paul Chamberlain on 01962 822564.