New roads on the University’s Knowledge Gateway research park will be named after three people who played a key role in shaping the Colchester Campus.

One of the roads currently being built on the 40-acre development will be called Capon Road, in honour of campus architect Kenneth Capon, who worked closely with founding Vice-Chancellor Sir Albert Sloman to develop a physical manifestation of his academic vision.

A second road, linking to the planned new Meadows student accommodation, will be named Annan Road, in recognition of the role of Lord Noel Annan in the development of the University 50 years ago.

While Provost of King’s College, Cambridge, in 1961, Lord Annan was appointed by the University Grants Committee as Chair of the Academic Planning Board set up to develop the new University of Essex.

Director of Estate Management, Andrew Nightingale, said: “With the University embarking on the biggest campus development since the 1960s in creating the Knowledge Gateway, the new roads will recognise these contributions to our history and our success today. If you go back to Sir Albert Sloman’s founding principles, the physical form of the campus still achieves its aims brilliantly.”

A third new road, adjoining the historic parkland of Wivenhoe Park, will be named Nesfield Road, recognising the nineteenth century landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield who designed the grounds around Wivenhoe House in the late 1840s. He was also responsible for the gardens of Castle Howard and Holkham Hall.

Work to develop the roads, services and landscaping for the Knowledge Gateway is due to be completed in the summer.