Campus medical school set to get council approval

The three-storey medical school, which is planned for the University of York's Heslington campus as part of a partnership with the University of Hull, is recommended for approval when it comes before the City of York Planning Committee on Thursday.

The new building is set to be built on an existing 202-space pay and display car park on the campus, but it is hoped that a new car park with 211 spaces will replace it.

A report to councillors describes the medical school as a new and innovative collaboration between the Universities of Hull and York.

It states: "The new medical school will help satisfy the national need for more doctors and will take 130 students a year from 2003, leading to the first qualified doctors graduating in 2008."

There will be buildings on campuses in York and Hull.

The initial proposal for York consists of a three-storey building with a monopitch roof, located close to the new Alcuin Collaboration Health Studies Department.

It will accommodate teaching and seminar rooms on the ground floor, academic staff and administrative offices on the first floor, and postgraduate work space on the second floor.

There is also scope for future expansion to the development subject to future planning applications.

The two universities and the NHS have been jointly awarded £13 million from the High Education Funding Council for England to cover the cost of setting up the new medical school to cover teaching and learning resources.

Additional funds from the NHS and other sources are expected to cover the infrastructure and staff costs associated with research.

The first phase will accommodate 30 staff, 70 postgraduate students and the 130 undergraduate students.

No objections to the plans have been received.

The application from the University of York will be discussed at the meeting on Thursday, at 4.30pm, at the Guildhall, York.

Updated: 11:58 Tuesday, August 27, 2002