The City Campus East will be fully pedestrianised

Northumbria University is investing £136m in its Newcastle city campus, on the site of the former Manors cinema.

The facilities will include a four-court sports hall, which could be opened up to create a 3,500-seat arena.

Discussions are also under way with the city council to incorporate a four-lane Olympic length swimming pool.

'World class'

Prof Kel Fidler, the university's vice chancellor, said: "In just three years since the land at the Manors site was acquired, the landscape has changed dramatically.

"We are looking forward to moving 9,000 staff and students into City Campus East, providing world-class accommodation for the start of the new academic year in September."

The transformation is being made possible by the relocation of the Newcastle Business School and the Schools of Law and Design into City Campus East.

The new site will also become the first city centre campus in the country to be fully pedestrianised, according to the university.