£2.2 million expansion for Harper Adams University to begin
A £2.2 million scheme to extend science labs at Shropshire's Harper Adams University is due to get under way in the new year after the scheme was given approval by Telford & Wrekin Council.
University bosses want to increase the size of the campus at Edgmond on the outskirts of Newport to cope with its high demand for agricultural science courses from students.
Work has started to prepare the site for construction and it is thought the scheme will be complete during the 2016/17 academic year.
A planning application was lodged with Telford & Wrekin Council earlier this year and has now been given approval.
Dr David Llewellyn, the university's vice-chancellor, said: "Work has started to prepare the site for construction, which will begin in earnest in the new year.
"We are thrilled that this important project is getting under way, and are grateful to all of the sponsors and supporters of the university who have enabled us to bring the laboratory scheme to this stage."
Funding for the work has been secured from the Government and donors, including the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.
The project has been backed by the Princess Royal, who is the university's chancellor, and she said she looked forward to seeing the plans come together. A report lodged with the planning application said the number of students using the laboratory facilities had grown tremendously over the last 30 years.
It said: "The laboratories are now struggling to cope with demand and academic staff are delivering the same undergraduate laboratory sessions many times over to ensure that all students can benefit from a better understanding of agricultural science. The university recognises that this approach does not make the best use of staff time and does not provide the best possible experience for students.
"To address the increased demand for laboratory space, the university seeks to create new flexible modern facilities to complement its existing laboratories."
The new development will be located adjacent to the Princess Margaret Laboratories. No extra jobs are expected to be created as part of the plans.
The current university campus site opened in 1901 and was developed in the 1920s with agricultural buildings.
Further development took place in the 1960s and recently completed projects, adjacent to the proposed site, include the Agricultural Engineering Innovation Centre and the Weston Building, which opened in 2013 and has a 260 seat lecture theatre, IT classrooms and a range of seminar rooms.
