Shropshire university's new veterinary school plans take step forward

Harper Adams University, near Newport, has submitted a planning application to Telford & Wrekin Council to build a new two-storey veterinary teaching building at its campus.

The plans state the building will provide 'modern, state of the art teaching and learning spaces alongside attractive social learning spaces for students and staff'.

Harper Adams University is jointly developing a new veterinary school in close partnership with Keele University.

The teaching programme for the course will be split between Harper Adams and Keele and is due to commence in September 2020.

The proposed building will have classrooms and seminar rooms, two lecture theatres, practical teaching spaces and staff offices.

A report, submitted with the planning application, says: "In addition to the new veterinary teaching programme the building is intended to be a hub for a range of veterinary programmes which are currently being delivered by the university, these courses include: undergraduate programmes in bio veterinary science; clinical animal behaviour and welfare; veterinary nursing; veterinary physiotherapy; agriculture."

The site for the proposed new building is located on the southern part of the university campus adjacent to a number of existing buildings used for veterinary nursing and physiotherapy.

This part of the campus was originally occupied by a range of agricultural buildings used for poultry husbandry which have since been demolished.

A decision on the proposals is expected to be made by Telford & Wrekin Council in the upcoming months.

The new vet school will provide a five-year programme leading to a degree in bachelor of veterinary medicine and surgery, with training to be delivered on both university campuses in partnership with local clinical providers and industry.

Accreditation will be sought from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, enabling graduates to register and practice as vets upon the award of their degree.

Confirming the news last year, Dr David Llewellyn, vice-chancellor of Harper Adams University, said: “After nearly a year of joint planning, both university governing bodies have strongly endorsed the proposal to create a joint veterinary school.

“Two major considerations for the Harper Adams board were that the new school will aim to widen access in this subject area and that, importantly, it will further support the UK’s agricultural sector as it faces a period of major change when the UK leaves the European Union.

“Harper Adams has a successful history of working with the agri-food industry, and our teaching and research specialisms in agriculture and animal sciences will complement Keele’s established track-record in the fields of life sciences and medicine.

“We are excited by the prospect of jointly creating a new veterinary school and look forward to continuing our work with Keele on this initiative.”