University of Plymouth prepares to welcome healthcare students into "landmark" £33m facility
One of the city's most iconic buildings, which overlooks the railway station, has been transformed
Last updated 16th Aug 2023
One of Plymouth's most iconic buildings has been transformed into a "landmark" £33million facility.
The University of Plymouth are preparing to welcome new and returning students to InterCity Place - which overlooks the city's railway station - from next month.
It has created a "state-of-the-art" space in which to train and develop the next generation of nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, optometrists and social workers.
The development is part of a University investment of almost £100million in teaching and learning that also includes engineering and design facilities in the new Babbage Building.
Professor Aled Jones, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Plymouth, said: "InterCity Place is a significant development for nursing and midwifery education at the University of Plymouth.
"Academic staff will utilise the state-of-the-art clinical skills spaces to support students to become highly skilled, confident and compassionate practitioners.
"In addition, the space is also geared to support high quality research and collaborations across nursing, midwifery and the health sciences.
"These excellent facilities underpin our approach to develop excellent nursing and midwifery professionals who meet the current and future needs of NHS and social care in the South West and beyond."
Dr Sally Abey, Head of University’s School of Health Professions, added: "For around 40 years, we have been at the pinnacle of quality health education in the South West with nationally regarded programmes in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, paramedicine, dietetics, optometry, and social work. InterCity Place builds on that, but is also the start of a new chapter for our school with its cutting-edge skills development laboratories.
"It will enable us to continue embracing new opportunities and collaborations, and lead, innovate, inspire, and shape the healthcare landscape while paving the way for even greater successes."
Work on the InterCity Place project has been led by the Kier Group. Professor Judith Petts CBE, the University’s Vice-Chancellor received the keys to InterCity Place earlier this week from Doug Lloyd, Operations Director of Kier Regional Building Western & Wales.
Since conversion works began in 2020, the majority of the building’s fixtures and fittings have been removed and replaced with the equipment required to train future health professionals.
The building’s completion also marks a major milestone in the Brunel Plaza development, being driven by a partnership involving the University, Plymouth City Council, Network Rail, and Great Western Railway, supported by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership.