THE idea to build a university in Basingstoke has received backing from a county councillor.

As previously reported, Fanum House is to be put on the market after the AA has decided the 47-year-old building no longer meets its needs for a modern work environment.

The property will be marketed jointly by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, as the freehold owner of the site, and the AA, which still holds a long lease on the property.

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Speaking to the Gazette, Cllr Simon Bound, the leader of the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BCBC) said he would like to see the building be turned into a university.

County councillor Stephen Reid has now spoken in support of the idea, which has also received backing from many other borough councillors.

He said: "I have seen some pretty cynical comments about the idea of a university campus in Basingstoke. For my part, I think it is a worthy objective and one that I have advocated for years. I applaud the leader of the council for promoting the idea again, in the context of future use for Fanum House.

"Basingstoke has its fair share of university-capable young people. But, if they must move away in order to complete their education, do they come back? Are there job opportunities for them and other graduates here?

"I fear that we lose a high proportion of our graduates to work elsewhere, and that must impact the view that employers take of our local labour force. That, in turn, will influence their decisions on whether or not to move their businesses here.

"A university not only caters for undergraduates but also has the capability of initiating research and attracting funding for it. Research leads to innovation, start-up companies and new jobs. We need that kind of employment opportunity in Basingstoke.

Cllr Reid said employment opportunities in the town are also something that must be considered seriously.

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He continued: "In many ways, the character of a town is set by the employment it offers. If all we attract here are warehouses, there will be limited scope for high-end jobs. I don't want a town where graduates feel they have no prospects and, in order to progress their careers, they have to move away.

"So yes, let’s have a university if we can. It may start as a satellite of another institution. But in time it could grow to be the University of North Hampshire, based in Basingstoke. That would be a real asset to the town and the people who live here.

"Let’s have the ambition and belief in our borough to pursue this option."

The building will be marketed in January 2023 to gauge interest from the property market before a final decision is made by the council and the AA.