AMBITIOUS plans to redevelop a former industrial estate to create a first-class campus for Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Sport are to be put forward by the University of Worcester.
The new sites will join the award-winning University of Worcester Arena and the adjoining Riverside building in creating an outstanding, exciting new ‘Severn Campus’, bordering and connecting to the Riverside Park, which Worcester City Council is working to create.
Work is already under way to 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.
University chiefs hope the Severn Campus will also become home to the long-planned International Inclusive Cricket and Education Centre.
The International Inclusive Cricket Education Centre, which has been designed in close consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board, will provide a national home for all forms of disability cricket.
It’s also hoped the outstanding net and practice offering will bowl over local cricket loving youngsters in particular as well as male and male cricketers of all abilities.
Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “The development of the Severn Campus will build on our outstanding work to educate students to work in a variety of health and wellbeing professions, from medicine to inclusive sport.
“The University is the major educator of the nurses and midwives who serve Herefordshire and Worcestershire, as well as much of Gloucestershire, Dudley and Halesowen.
“For several years now, the University has been working with England Disability Cricket, the Worcestershire Cricket Board and County Cricket Club and the England and Wales Cricket Board on a project to create the world’s first inclusive cricket education centre.
“This centre will provide both an important national facility and plentiful opportunities for children and the wider community in Worcester and beyond to gain educational, cricket and well-being skills,” he added.
The University will be making a planning application in the coming weeks to install important infrastructure at the site that will improve pedestrian, wheelchair and cycling connectivity between the Riverside, Sabrina Bridge and St John’s.
The plans will also include the installation of formalised parking, including electric vehicle and cycle parking provision and improved access into and through the campus.
Ahead of the planning application submission, the University would like to hear from the community about its proposals and has set up a questionnaire which people can complete on its website www.worcester.ac.uk/capital-developments
The University intend to submit the planning application as soon as possible.
