New Year start for Shrewsbury Guildhall university project
The conversion of Shrewsbury's Guildhall into university teaching buildings is on track to begin in January and should be finished by April.
Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council are both based at the building, but with most of Shropshire Council's workers and services now moved out, work will begin imminently.
Paul Kirkbright, University Centre Shrewsbury deputy provost, said: "Most of the county council's operations have moved out now.
"The refurbishment of the building should be starting early next year with the aim of finishing in April."
The Guildhall, which lies on the banks of the River Severn in Frankwell, will be the main base for lectures from September next year.
Mr Kirkbright said that the town council will still be there while some of the refurbishment takes place, but with Shropshire Council out of the building work can start soon.
He added that Rowley's House had already been refurbished in advance of the opening of the reception area from January next year and there are already postgraduate courses taking place in the building.
Work has taken place to transform the rooms into spaces for teaching, events and to provide an information point for people to drop in and find out more about the university centre.
People will soon be able to visit Rowley's House to learn more about a course, how organisations or businesses can work with the University Centre and to learn about overall developments.
University Centre Shrewsbury is being established by the University of Chester and Shropshire Council after research showed there was strong demand for and interest in a new institution to serve the needs of the county.
Professor Tim Wheeler, vice-chancellor of the University of Chester, said: "While post-graduate courses are already under way, we'll be welcoming more post-graduates and our first under-graduate students.
"We're excited to be taking the next steps in our development and will continue to work with councillors, students, residents, businesses, voluntary and community groups, education providers and others to create as many benefits as possible."
Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, added: "2015 will be a really exciting year for University Centre Shrewsbury as we look forward to welcoming our first undergraduates in the autumn."
The former reference library at Castle Gates will become University Centre Shrewsbury's library, and options for student accommodation are still being considered but should be announced soon.
Yesterday it was revealed accommodation for students at the new university would be ready in time for undergraduates starting their studies in September.
