University's plans for green belt land

A SWATHE of greenbelt land on the outskirts of Canterbury is being considered as the site of a new university campus.

The city council has admitted to Langton and Nackington Residents Association that the land, stretching from the Park and Ride on New Dover Road to Simon Langton Boys School, could potentially be used by the Northern Cyprus-based Girne American University which has recently set up a site on St George's Street.

Janet Taylor, deputy head of the council's legal services, responded to a Freedom of Information request by the association and said: "GAU has approached the council to discuss a proposal for a new campus to provide a higher education institute and on-site accommodation. The site is located in the adopted local plan policy, C19, for a new college campus."

The land was originally designated for farming but was reclassified ten years ago as 'suitable for educational use' when Canterbury Christ Church University applied for planning permission to develop a new campus.

That scheme did not go ahead.