University of the Arts London secures £2million to help secure the future of art and design school in West London

University of the Arts London (UAL) has been awarded a government grant of almost £2million to reduce carbon emissions as part of the refurbishment of its Lime Grove campus to create a new pre-degree school for art, design, media and fashion in the heart of Shepherds Bush, West London.

Following UAL’s decision to move the London College of Fashion graduate courses to Stratford’s East Bank in 2023, the two-acre Lime Grove site was put on the market for sale.

Now, in a boost for creative education, this funding will futureproof the site for UAL’s Foundation course, further education and pre-degree studies. Students will have the opportunity to explore, experiment and develop their creativity – and those that successfully complete the Foundation course in art and design will progress to an undergraduate degree at one of UAL’s six iconic colleges.

The grant is awarded from Phase 3c of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix Finance. It will support UAL’s net zero carbon targets – as outlined in the university’s Climate Action Plan.

The funding will be directed towards reducing UAL’s reliance on gas by insulating where possible and installing heat pumps instead of gas boilers.  This will not only reduce carbon emissions and energy cost but also improve air quality.

The site itself is steeped in a long history of arts and culture. A grade II listed building, it has provided creative education and technical skills to young people for over a century: starting with three women’s trade schools specialising in dressmaking, millinery, embroidery, and hairdressing, eventually merging into what became London College of Fashion, UAL.

In its new capacity as the UAL School of Pre-degree Studies, the building will bring together young creatives from London and across the world at the very start of their career. It will create opportunities for students to access targeted support, excellent teaching, and relevant industry skills - to help our students develop their skills and progress to a degree in creative arts and into employment in the creative industries and beyond.

The space will bring together all of UAL’s world leading pre-degree courses in art, media, design and fashion. In the 2024/25 academic year, most of the university’s pre-degree courses will move to the site including the world-famous Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (FAD).

This new School will use the experience and expertise of UAL’s inspiring faculty from across Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, London College of Communication and Camberwell College of Arts, to design and deliver innovative contemporary programmes and courses which are inclusive, responsive and aligned with the university’s social purpose goals.