(L-R)Project Manager from Seddon, Jon Hulley; Professor Jonathan Wastling, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for Natural Sciences; Sir Keith Pearson, Chairman of Noviniti Ltd; and Professor Matt Jones, Head of the Harper Keele Veterinary School.

The construction of a new building housing the Harper Keele Veterinary School on Keele University’s campus is officially underway following a ground-breaking ceremony last Friday.

The state-of-the-art building is being delivered by Seddon Construction, which has been appointed as main contractor by the developer Noviniti Limited, to construct a new facility to house veterinary services on the Keele University Science and Innovation Park.

The vet school is a joint venture between Keele University and Harper Adams University and welcomed its first cohort of students in September.

Part of the building will incorporate teaching facilities, a clinical skills centre and a Veterinary School hub, which will be a veterinary ‘home’ for Harper and Keele Veterinary School staff and students on the campus. The other wing of the building will be home to various complementary users.

Keele University Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for Natural Sciences, Professor Jonathan Wastling said: “We are excited to work with Seddon and Noviniti and are looking forward to our new veterinary students having access to this fantastic new facility. The new facilities will enhance the exciting environment provided by Keele’s expertise in life sciences and our highly regarded Medical School, as well as Harper Adams’ long-established record in delivering programmes in the veterinary field, agriculture and animal sciences along with their world-class animal facilities.”

Professor Matthew Jones, Head of the Harper Keele Veterinary School, said: “This gives the Vet School an enviable opportunity to work closely with veterinary businesses on the campus. Our students will be fully engaged in all aspects of practice life to enhance their clinical skills and to give them an authentic workplace-based education. This also affords us the opportunity to pursue clinical research and innovation projects with our partners.”

Sir Keith Pearson, Chairman of Noviniti Limited, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as developers on this important higher education project with Keele University. The building is a powerful statement by Harper Keele in these difficult times, and confidently points to a strengthened education future for Keele, when Covid will be behind us.”

John Shannon, divisional director at Seddon, added: “Once completed, this will be an exemplary learning facility for veterinary students to gain first-class education for years to come. We’re progressing the build well and can’t wait to see the finished building buzzing with activity.”

The veterinary facility will open in early 2022.