A West Midlands university campus has been sold to Chinese investors with a promise it will stay in educational use.
Staffordshire University has signed contracts on its 50-acre campus close to Stafford town centre as it migrates courses and staff away to neighbouring sites in the town and its main campus in Stoke.
Details about the purchaser and their future plans for the site are being kept a closely guarded secret by the university at this stage but it did say it would help the new occupier realise its vision for the campus.
The institute said it would maintain "a strong presence" in Stafford through its Centre of Excellence in nearby Blackheath Lane, which is home to approximately 1,500 students on nursing, midwifery and professional health courses.
Staffordshire University Business Village, which offers commercial space for new and fledgling companies, will continue to operate on Stafford Technology Park after the university's remaining courses are transferred from Beaconside to their main base in Stoke from September.
Deputy chief executive Margaret Monckton said: "Our legacy is important to us and the proposed uses for Beaconside are absolutely in line with that.
"It means the site is retained for education and it brings a new international employer into Stafford.
"We remain committed to Stafford and are currently investing £4 million in creating a self-contained centre of excellence at our Blackheath Lane site."
All computing and entertainment technology degrees will move from Beaconside to Stoke in September and completion of the sale is scheduled for November.
Beaconside Sports Centre, which forms part of the site, is scheduled to close this summer although the use of the large astroturf facility will remain in public use until June 2017.
Property consultancy Bilfinger GVA was appointed to handle the sale of the campus.
