The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) looks set to build a 45,000 sq ft veterinary teaching facility in Preston with the new vet school opening next year.
Planning permission has been granted by Preston City Council for the new vet school earlier this week with work set to start on the Victoria Street site next year.
The new building will be the UK’s 11th dedicated veterinary school and the first in Lancashire, with the targeted completion date for the Victoria Street site set to be September 2024.
The building will be adjacent to UCLan’s Greenbank Building and be a four-storey facility that would replace an existing UCLan car park.
The Greenbank building will also receive a refurb and have kennel facilities, consultation rooms, a rehabilitation suite and other teaching facilities on its ground floor.
The new facility is to feature high-specification anatomical skills laboratories, together with simulated clinical facilities including a pharmacy, diagnostic suite, and practice operating theatres. There will also be a microscopy laboratory and dental room alongside a variety of teaching rooms and office spaces.
Dr Heather Bacon, head of UCLan’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “We can now start working on creating our technologically advanced veterinary school, which will play a major role in developing the veterinary practitioners and leaders of the future, and supporting economic growth in the North.”
Sarah Myers, senior planner at UCLan’s planning advisor Cushman & Wakefield said: “This significant investment will be a real asset to the region. It’s been a pleasure supporting UCLan throughout the process and we look forward to seeing construction work begin next year.”
The architect in charge of the new scheme will be Wilson Mason.
Wilson Mason was the architect that designed the scheme. The development aims to achieve sufficient credits for the building to qualify for a BREEAM Excellent rating.
