University plans £30m doctor school
The University of Leicester has unveiled plans for a £30m training facility for doctors being taught in the city. The Medical Teaching Building will comprise teaching rooms and computer laboratories, and will become one of the most energy efficient buildings of its kind in the UK, said the university.
The new building will replace teaching undertaken by the university’s college of medicine, biological sciences and psychology in the medical sciences building which was constructed in the mid-1970s.
Owner of the land, Regent College, has entered into an agreement with the university to develop the site at the corner of University Road and Lancaster Road.
Regent College said it had agreed in principle to the sale of a section of land to the university to directly fund the development of a high quality college sports hall, changing facilities and new classrooms.
The university said it will make a fully detailed planning application to Leicester City Council later this month. Subject to approval, the university aims to begin development on the site by the 2013/14 academic year.
Professor Stewart Petersen, head of medical and social care education, said: "This fantastic new building will ensure that Leicester medical students learn in the best possible facilities, so they may be very well equipped to face the challenges of medicine in the 21st century."
The proposed project will be funded by loans, reserves and support from the NHS.
