To facilitate the strategic move, the former paper mill at Guardbridge will be transformed into a modern working environment for key professional staff.

The £20 million plan will involve the sensitive restoration and refurbishment of buildings to create state-of-the-art office space, storage for library stock, a canteen and associated parking and landscaping. A key part of the development will be a café which will be open to the public as well as University staff.

A new entrance to the Campus will be created to reconnect the community of Guardbridge to the site and make it accessible to the public for the first time in over 150 years.

‌The plans provide for a total office space capacity for 500. It is anticipated that around 100 jobs will be created during the two-year construction and fitting out phase.

The relocation of staff to Eden Campus will ease the pressure on office and parking space in St Andrews and release space in the town centre and North Haugh for teaching and research purposes.

University of St Andrews Quaestor and Factor, Derek Watson, said: “This is a major strategic move for the University which will provide an exceptional working environment for our staff, breathe new life in the local economy of Guardbridge and have a beneficial impact on the town of St Andrews.

“We are committed to rejuvenating the former paper mill site and the development will result in the reuse of existing buildings, introduce a modern yet sympathetic new entrance into the site, and foster a sense of vibrancy and vitality.”

The relocation of University staff to Eden Campus is due to begin in phases from the end of 2019.

All images of the Eden Campus Redevelopment Project are provided courtesy of Atkins