New Worcester Uni training facility for healthcare professionals gets the green light

Plans to transform a well-known Worcester building into new teaching facilities for health students have been approved by City planners.

The University of Worcester is developing the former Worcester News building, known as Berrows House, on Hylton Road into dedicated space to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals, including through its proposed new Three Counties Medical School.

The large two and three storey 1965 building, designed by Austin-Smith Salmon-Lord Partnership, will become an architectural highlight on the St John’s bank of the River Severn.

University Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE, said: “The development of this facility will be key in providing inclusive and inspiring learning facilities to educate the next generation of health professionals that this Country so badly needs. This new Centre for Health and Medical Education will bring much-needed jobs and prosperity to the City, creating hundreds of new opportunities to gain a first-class education and vital professional qualifications in a wide variety of health professions.”

The plans, drawn up by Midlands-based Glancy Nicholls Architects, include an anatomy laboratory, a suite of GP simulation rooms, and a range of general seminar and teaching rooms. There will also be offices, break-out spaces for group study and a café. Stepnell has been appointed as contractors to develop the building, which will open at the end of 2022.

Richard Wakeford, main board director at Stepnell and project sponsor, said: “We were delighted to be awarded this project through our framework agreement with the University after recently completing its Art House building. Our Midlands team, led by regional director Adrian Barnes, are committed to working in partnership with both the University and our local supply chain and we are really looking forward to delivering the Berrows House scheme to the highest possible standard.”

Mr Barnes said: “We’re incredibly excited about being involved in this project and supporting the University in creating high-quality teaching facilities for trainees. Now more than ever, we need to support investment in the healthcare sector - so providing essential learning spaces that contribute towards the development of the next generation of medical professionals is a great way for us to do this.”