Worcester’s MP, Robin Walker, has praised the University’s efforts to develop a new centre for health and wellbeing in the City, during a recent visit.
Mr Walker said: “The Towns Fund is looking at a number of key strategic priorities for Worcester, including regeneration and active travel, as well as strengthening the economy and creating job opportunities and I think the new health and wellbeing centre ticks all those boxes. It’s also complementary to some of the work that will be going on elsewhere in the City.”
Mr Walker’s comments came after a tour of some of the University’s recent and future developments, including the new halls of residence at St John’s, which opened last year and whose first occupants were student nurses who had volunteered to work on the NHS front line during the first wave of Covid-19 infections. Mr Walker viewed the very extensive construction works taking place at the former Worcester News building, Berrows House, which is being transformed into a specialist facility for health education, training and wellbeing. He also met representatives of Stepnells who are carrying out the work.
The work already under way will redevelop the former Berrows House building into a state-of-the-art teaching facility for health professional students studying nursing, midwifery, medicine, paramedicine, physiotherapy, sports therapy and occupational therapy as well as those studying to become Physician Associates. The University is currently applying for accreditation of the new Three Counties Medical School. If successful, this building will become the home of the new Three Counties Medical School at the University of Worcester.
Mr Walker said of the development: “This [building] will be of great public and community benefit to Worcester, and builds on the fantastic success that the University’s had in training health professionals and being able to expand that over recent years. It hopefully also contributes to a very strong case we have for a medical school.”
He added: “A medical school for Worcester is something that I have long desired to see happen and it feels to me like we’re at a good moment now with all the health trusts coming on board with it to make that happen and get it delivered.”
The new Severn Campus, bordering and connecting to the Riverside Park, which Worcester City Council is working to create, is also intended to become home to the long-planned International Inclusive Cricket and Education Centre, along with further teaching facilities. The International Inclusive Cricket Education Centre, which has been designed in close consultation with the England Cricket Board, will provide a national home for all forms of disability cricket as well as outstanding net and practice facilities for local cricket loving youngsters in particular as well as male and female cricketers of all abilities.
As with the University’s other facilities, the campus will be available to the local community on an organised basis. There will also be special facilities designed in to promote exercise as part of supervised rehabilitation programmes which are typically needed following some episodes of heart attack, stroke and physical injury.
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “It was very positive to welcome Mr Walker to the University and to show him some of our exciting developments and plans for the future. The creation of the Severn Campus for health, well-being and inclusive sport will be as positive for Worcester as the Hive has proved. It will be a thriving engine for educating the health and well-being professionals the whole country desperately needs as well as provide excellent I facilities which are inclusive for all.”
The latest planning application submitted by the University is for the installation of important infrastructure at the site that will improve pedestrian, wheelchair and cycling connectivity between the Riverside, Sabrina Bridge and St John’s. The plans also include the installation of formalised parking, including electric vehicle and cycle parking provision, improved access into and through the Campus (including to improve flood emergency procedures), and additional green infrastructure, for the whole of the Severn Campus. Worcester City Council will make a decision on the application in the coming weeks.