University wins planning consent for first phase of health innovation campus

The University of Huddersfield has received the green light to start work on the first new building of its National Health Innovation Campus.

The campus will be instrumental in training the next generation of health professionals.

It will enable a rapid expansion of courses in nursing, midwifery, allied health and human sciences and contribute to the economic prosperity of the region.

This first building on the Southgate site will be designed to improve health outcomes and lead innovation in healthcare for the North of England.

It will be named after Daphne Steele, an inspirational nurse and midwife who became the first black matron in Britain.

University vice-chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan, said: “This latest development is another significant step towards our goal of improving health outcomes and leading innovation in healthcare for the North of England.

“It is an honour to have this first building named after Daphne Steele and I would like to thank her family for this. Such a ground-breaking figure is sure to inspire our students in their future careers.”

The National Health Innovation Campus will work with partners across the region to address some of the health and wellbeing issues facing Yorkshire and the Humber, including high levels of obesity, the third lowest life expectancy for men and women, and the second highest rate of deaths in infancy.

The campus will feature specialist clinical teaching facilities, research facilities, public facing clinics and co-located public and private sector partners.

Growth in the university’s School of Human and Health Sciences has delivered over 200 additional skilled jobs in the past four years, and the planned development is intended to deliver at least 100 more in the next five years.