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About Estates

The University of Reading is a global university that enjoys a world-class reputation. The University is committed to maintaining a supportive, challenging and high-quality experience for students and staff alike and to preserving the heritage and beauty of some of the most beautiful university campuses in the UK.  In the United Kingdom, the campuses on London Road and Whiteknights are based in the town of Reading itself, and Greenlands is based on the banks of the River Thames in Buckinghamshire. With about 426 buildings and 1,218 hectares of land holdings across campuses, we thrive to transform lives by focusing on excellence and innovation in education and research – locally, nationally and globally.

Estates focuses on creating an environment where our students and staff can excel academically and personally by providing a fulfilling working and study setting that supports their development. We are committed to playing our part in tackling climate change and are recognised as a University that leads on global environmental sustainability.

Andrew Casselden

Director of Estates

Our vision:

We have an ambitious, strongly place based vision, based on the beautiful parkland characteristics of the majority of the three campuses to create: The University in a Park. The University Strategic plan views the purpose of the University through “the lens of our connections with the world”. A strong link exists to the University’s physical presence as the anchor of those connections. The importance of place, in underpinning the work of the University and grounding the communities that enable it, cannot be understated.

Five strategic drivers have been established. It is recognised there are strong synergies and overlaps between these drivers. The drivers have been developed to help to define the Estates needs in responding to the Strategic Plan. The nine institutional KPIs have informed the selection of these drivers in conjunction with in-depth needs analysis, benchmarking, and engagement with key stakeholders and committees.

The workplace and other facilities provided within the Estate are key to quality academic delivery and professional services. There are three overlapping factors in considering study and workplace and how it supports those learning and working within it:

  • People – the communities, relationships, policies, and cultural standards that impact students and staff
  • Technology – the systems and tools are used to support student and staff in their development
  • Space – the physical surroundings in which students and staff undertake their work

In addition, the campus is widely used by the local community, tenants and many external organisations. As well as mature parkland, the campus has a range of sports facilities, two public museums and a number of catering outlets open to the general public along with the academic, residential, administrative and other specialist buildings expected of a world-class university.

  • We have met a sustainable travel target of 87% and 35% reduction in waste generated per person against 2015/16 baseline
  • We are 4th in latest People and Planet University League with net zero carbon emissions commitment by 2030 and zero direct/indirect investments in fossil fuels
  • The Campus Heart provides additional teaching and study space for growth, but most importantly serves to promote engagement and recruitment.
  • Our facilities include an extensive fitness studio, dance/ yoga and martial arts studios, a multi-purpose sports hall, squash courts, floodlit synthetic turf five-a-side-soccer pitches, and grass football and rugby pitches
  • There are two museums on the Whiteknights campus. Both are open to members of the public and run events tailored to parties of school children during term time and families during the holiday periods.
  • We are 1st in the UK and Europe for responsible production and consumption (SDG12) in THE GIR1
  • In top 50 universities globally for our work in 7 of the 17 SDGs2 as ranked by the GIR
  • 14 Consecutive Green Flag awards for Whiteknights campus
  • ISO 14001/ISO 50001 integrated and certified Energy and Environmental Management System