UWI can move forward with the first phase of its US$80 million expansion at the Five Islands Campus. A detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment found that the project is suitable to proceed. The report says the environmental and social impacts can be managed with proper planning and monitoring. EcoUrban Planning Ltd. prepared the assessment for KS&P Ltd. The Department of Environment required the study before granting final approval.

UWI plans to expand the campus in three phases. The goal is to create a larger regional university for about 5,000 students and 500 staff members. Student enrolment has already increased from about 434 in the 2021–22 academic year to more than 1,100 in 2025. The first phase will cover about 13 acres. It will include a learning resource centre, lecture theatres, a library and a three-storey student residence with 116 beds. The project also includes a sports complex, a wastewater treatment plant, internal roads, landscaped areas and 127 parking spaces. The Saudi Fund for Development is providing the financing.

UWI must also address several environmental concerns. Traffic is one of the biggest challenges. Gray’s Farm Main Road already experiences congestion, poor drainage and narrow roadways. More students and staff will increase traffic in the area. Engineers also identified flooding risks because the site drains toward Hanson’s Bay and nearby wetlands. The project includes new drainage channels, detention ponds and stormwater systems to reduce flooding. The nearby Cooks Sanitary Landfill could also affect air quality through odours and airborne emissions. The report recommends better ventilation, air filtration and regular air quality monitoring across the campus.

UWI will also manage construction impacts such as dust, noise, soil erosion and vegetation clearing. Workers will use environmental controls to reduce these effects. Once construction ends, the main concerns will include traffic, wastewater and solid waste. The report says the university can manage these issues through its Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan. Consultants also recommend creating a process for residents and workers to report concerns. Overall, the assessment says the long-term benefits outweigh the risks. The expansion will improve access to higher education, create jobs and support economic growth. It will also help strengthen Five Islands as a university community.