The leader of Dudley Council has hailed the start an exciting new era for education in Dudley, as the construction phase of a new £26 million university campus concludes.
Dudley Council and its Alliance partners constructed the Castle Hill campus utilising £25 million of government funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government under the Local Regeneration Fund.
Work was completed on time and on budget, with the council co-investing with government funding to make the project a success.
The project is expected to create new employment and skill opportunities for people in Dudley, with 35 new job creations and engagement with the business sector anticipated.
The University of Worcester will run a health and life sciences college from the site, which will provide university-level courses for the health sector, in conjunction with its partner Dudley College.
The building is now being prepared to welcome students, with learners expected on site later this year with some students already having started courses at the nearby Institute of Technology building.
Over the first five years is expected to see more than 1,000 learners enrolled across a variety of courses, with a focus on helping students to prepare for the workplace.
Dudley College of Technology worked alongside the council to develop the new facility, after building up a degree of expertise through the development of the Dudley Learning Quarter and the creation of the Black Country and Marches Institute of Technology.
The construction project operated a keen focus on social value and greener development with 80 per cent of team working on site hailing from local areas including Stourbridge, Halesowen and Dudley.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: “This is another fantastic addition and asset to the innovation quarter here in Dudley and I am thrilled to see the construction phase completed on time and in budget.
“The campus will have a keen focus on health and life sciences, bringing more higher education learning opportunities and marking the start of an exciting new era for education in our town.
“We are currently finalising agreements for Dudley College to take the headlease and University of Worcester to take the sublease.”
Under the scheme, in partnership with Dudley College, the council commissioned the creation of an Alliance made up of architects, engineers, constructors and a delivery supply chain under a single insurance backed alliance (IBA) contract.
The insurance-backed contract meant the council and its partners managed costs, material supply and programme differently so the project carried a lower risk.
Professor David Green CBE, the University of Worcester Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, added: “We are delighted to be working with Dudley Council, Dudley College and the NHS to bring the opportunity to train as a nurse and gain this valuable qualification here in Dudley.
“This building will contain vitally necessary specialist simulation and healthcare specific education facilities so that the students can learn effectively and safely and go on to be outstanding nurses in our NHS. Working with the College.
“NHS and local employers, we plan to bring more higher education opportunities to Dudley’s doorstep. We would like to thank all our partners who have worked so hard to get this exciting project to this stage and look forward to much further success together.”
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