Nottingham City Council's Development Control Committee has given the go ahead for Aspire - the UK's tallest free-standing sculpture.

The 60-metre tower, made of red and orange steel, will be located on the Jubilee Campus of The University of Nottingham and will be three times taller than the Angel of the North and three metres taller than Nelson's Column.

The sculpture has been designed by Ken Shuttleworth, responsible for some of the cutting-edge buildings on the Jubilee Campus and perhaps best known for 'The Gherkin' building in London.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Colin Campbell, said: “I think 'Aspire' has strength, elegance and real purpose.”

Sir Colin Campbell added: “It says that we want talented people, wherever they are in society, wherever they live in the world, to aspire to a world class education. It captures the essence of our research across all of the academic disciplines — we aspire constantly to solve problems, devise solutions, improve health, achieve greater understanding, enrich culture. And it conveys the ambition of our city — which aspires to greater prosperity, more highly skilled and knowledge-based employment, improved educational standards and an excellent quality of life. 'Aspire' is about the University and the city making a bold statement about its future, and seeking the positive recognition Nottingham thoroughly deserves.”

The sculpture — whose design, manufacture and installation will cost around £800,000 — was named following a competition amongst The University of Nottingham's 6,500 staff and 36,000 students.

Acknowledging the substantial gift which will enable Britain's tallest free-standing work of public art to be erected in Nottingham, Sir Colin Campbell said: “The piece is being funded through the great generosity of a philanthropist who prefers to remain anonymous. The sculpture is not being paid for by public money. It is a gift to The University of Nottingham, and, through us, to the people of this city.

“It goes without saying that the benefactor has a huge commitment to the value of education and also to the visual arts. They wish to create an emblem which will make people think about their ambitions, and where they could go in life. Clearly they also have an enormous affection for Nottingham.”

Designer Ken Shuttleworth said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to design a public artwork at the heart of the Jubilee Campus. Our design has evolved out of the desire to create a dynamic sculptural form which symbolises both the innovation and expertise that The University of Nottingham represents, and the exciting new era that the university enters as Jubilee Campus undergoes its transformation.

“We're particularly pleased that students and staff of The University of Nottingham have been responsible for actually naming the sculpture. These are the people who will experience the sculpture as part of their daily environment, and we hope that they will feel a real sense of ownership and pride in this striking new addition to the campus; we certainly think that their chosen name really captures the essence of what we were trying to achieve with the work."

“Aspire” is currently being considered by the local planning authority (Nottingham City Council) and – if approved – will consist of:

* 8 metres of concrete and 52 metres of steel in tones of red and orange.

* The sculpture will be lit during the hours of darkness.