University gets green light for next stage of National Health Innovation Campus
The University of Huddersfield has submitted a reserved matters planning application for the second building on its National Health Innovation Campus, to sit alongside the Daphne Steele building.
The ground floor of the building will host a Community Diagnostic Centre Hub (CDC), in partnership with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. This is a unique partnership, the first of its kind on a university campus. The CDC will provide access to thousands of additional diagnostic tests for the people of Calderdale and Huddersfield, including MRI and CT scanners right in the heart of Huddersfield.
Catherine Riley, Associate Director of Strategy at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s a privilege to work with our partners at the University of Huddersfield on this exciting project. Not only will the new community diagnostic centre benefit the people of Huddersfield and the surrounding areas, but it will also benefit the next generation of healthcare students and support our future diagnostic workforce.”
University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to deliver such an important facility for people in our community.
The National Health Innovation Campus - artists' impression.
The National Health Innovation Campus - artists' impression.
“It is at the heart of our Health Innovation Campus – which has been designed to help make a difference to the health and wellbeing of all of us in the region. This is a concrete symbol of the important role the University plays in working with the health professions, educating the workforce of the future, and driving innovation for better health, care and wellbeing.”
Other floors of the building will contain specialist clinical teaching facilities, also to be delivered in partnership with the Trust, including in new course areas relating to the work of the CDC, such as Diagnostic Radiography.
It is expected that these will provide access to state-of-the-art simulation technology enabling students to learn in a safe, but realistic clinical environment. The third floor will provide facilities for expansion in other areas, including the intention to develop courses in fields such as Dental Hygiene.
Plans are under way for the top floor of Building Two to house a Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre for local entrepreneurs or start-ups and organisations looking to benefit from locating with the University on the campus.
Building work is scheduled to begin in April 2024, with completion in the summer of 2025.