PROPOSED sites have been put forward for the development of Hereford's new university, including a council car park which currently generates £275,000 a year.

Franklin House, Gaol Street car park, part of the Essex Arms police training ground in Widemarsh Street and part of the north magazine plot in Rotherwas have been put forward for teaching, administration and student accommodation.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, councillors will be asked to approve one or more of the council sites identified to be sold or leased to the Herefordshire Tertiary Education Trust (HTET).

HTET is developing a business plan which will decide whether the £18m launch funding from government is released for the New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMiTE).

A key element of the case will be tangible evidence of how and where the university buildings will be located.

The report by cabinet member for contracts and assets, Harry Bramer, said the Gaol Street site currently generates around £275,000 per annum in car parking revenue and provides 130 car parking spaces.

In his report to cabinet he said: "As a key shopper’s car park on the east of the city centre, alternative replacement car parking to meet this demand will need to be provided in of advance of this site being progressed.

"The timing of any development would also need to be managed so as not to conflict with the development of the link road and resultant loss of parking at Merton Meadow."

HTET are keen for Franklin House, given its central position, to become the administrative hub and would include some teaching space.

Along with the car park and the police training ground, it could also be considered for the teaching/student accommodation buildings and the Rotherwas site could be considered for a teaching/research unit.

The business model centres on a dispersed group of colleges incorporating student accommodation, administration and teaching facilities and does not propose a stand-alone campus.

HTET has identified that initially they require teaching, administration and accommodation space for upwards of 1,500 students and this number is anticipated to rise to 5,000 by 2029 to 2030.

Premises for the administration of the university is a critical early requirement.

The council will continue to review sites across its land and building holdings for suitability in developing the new university in order to drive the project forward and inform the development of the business plan.