Discover our award-winning estate

After our incredible students and staff, the estate is where everything comes to life, it’s the heart of our university, creating sustainable spaces that nurture learning, spark discovery, and make every experience unforgettable.
Our estate boasts three exceptional UK campuses—Whiteknights and London Road in the vibrant town of Reading, and the picturesque Greenlands campus in Henley-on-Thames. Beyond these, we offer a cutting-edge Science Park, two working farms, three fascinating museums, a welcoming pub, plus an international presence with our dynamic campus in Malaysia and a satellite site in South Africa.

ANDREW CASSELDEN

Director of Estates

The Estates Directorate is responsible for the strategic planning, development, operation, and long-term sustainability of the university’s estate. These functions are closely interconnected and aligned through the Estate Strategy, which serves as the guiding framework for their integration.
The Estate Strategy complements the University Strategic Plan 2020-2026, by setting out how the built environment aspects of the Strategic Plan will be delivered.

Discover our Estate Strategy  ❯

We manage 400 builds, which is 350000 square meters of internal space, equivalent to 50 football pitches. 220000 square meters are dedicated to academic endeavours, 26% to teaching spaces, 19% to research spaces and 7% library space
We manage 400 builds, which is 350000 square meters of internal space, equivalent to 50 football pitches. 220000 square meters are dedicated to academic endeavours, 26% to teaching spaces, 19% to research spaces and 7% library space

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Whiteknights campus has earned the prestigious Green Flag Award for the 15th consecutive year, reaffirming its status as one of the UK’s finest outdoor public spaces.
  • Named Sustainable University of the Year 2025 by The Times and The Sunday Times, we’re proud to lead on climate action and environmental sustainability.
  • We recycle over 60% of our waste and we’ve reduced our carbon emissions by 60% so far on our journey to Net Zero.
  • 100% of our grid electricity is guaranteed to come from renewable sources, we refuse to invest in fossil fuel companies.
  • We manage over 20km of Public Rights of Way, in excess of 10km of permissive paths, and riparian obligations covering a complex network of watercourses and main rivers.
  • We proudly care for 20km of Public Rights of Way, over 10km of scenic permissive paths, and safeguard vital waterways—connecting communities while protecting nature.
  • We've opened of 2 outdoor classrooms, created in collaboration with local schools and in line with National and University initiatives to engage children with the natural world.
  • Estates actively manage the University's tree stock and have nearly 6000 entries on the tree management data base.
  • Beyond its modern campuses, the University boasts a strategic estate featuring world-class partners. Shinfield Studios—one of the UK’s largest—opened in 2024 at Thames Valley Science Park, which will also host new British Museum and Natural History Museum facilities. At Whiteknights, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is under construction, creating exceptional opportunities for collaboration.