THE University of Hereford is going to have a city centre campus - and local know how could make it happen.

This week the project confirmed that county architectural firm Architype will work with London-based Niall McLaughlin Architects to create the campus master-plan.

Ross-on-Wye based Chartered Surveyor Jonathan Preece has been retained to advise on the project's property needs and secure suitable city centre sites.

No sites have been confirmed as yet.

The master-plan spreads teaching venues, administration offices and student accommodation across a swathe of the city centre from Hereford Station in the north and the River Wye in the south and from the A49 to the west across to Commercial Road.

"We expect to adapt a number of existing buildings and develop some new and striking buildings," said university project leader Karen Usher.

"We are very keen to hear from the City’s property owners who may be looking for new or additional uses for their investments," she said.

Initially, enough start up space is needed for around 300 students.

Architype, with an office at Upper Twyford, near Hereford, specialises in sustainable buildings.

In the county, Architype has been involved in the records and archives centre, the in-patient unit at St Michael's Hospice, a new factory site for TRP Sealing Systems and Staunton-on-Wye primary school.

Niall McLaughlin projects put a strong emphasis on the "inventive" use of building materials, qualities of light and the relationship between the building and its surrounds.

Talks between the project and Massachusetts based Olin College of Engineering over a collaborative partnership  were underway in the USA last week.

The project intends to establish a "collaboratory" with three Russell Group universities to share and develop Olin’s teaching methods in the UK.

Last month, Massachusetts based Olin was ranked amongst the USA's leading undergraduate engineering programmes.

As reported by the Hereford Times, the University of Hereford project plans to adapt Olin’s innovative techniques to the UK.

Also starting work this month is the project's philanthropy company which will raise at least £25 million identified as needed to see the university through its first years.