City aims to lead world with research centre for sport and medicine

A YORKSHIRE university has won planning approval for a major health research centre that will ‘revolutionise’ sport and medicine.

Sheffield City Council has granted Sheffield Hallam University permission to develop what will be know as the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre on the Olympic Legacy Park site in Attercliffe.

The aim is for the multimillion-pound development to become the most advanced research and development centre for physical activity in the world by creating solutions to improve the health of people in Sheffield and across the UK.

It will open in spring 2019 and employ 70 researchers. University vice-chancellor professor Chris Husbands, inset, said: “Our vision to develop the most advanced research and development centre for health and physical activity in the world is coming to fruition. “What this means is that Sheffield Hallam will be leading work which has the potential to transform the nation’s wellbeing. “It will revolutionise sport, health care, physical activity and leisure. This is a major step forward for the university, the city and the country.” The Government has pledged £14m towards the project, which will sit alongside new sporting facilities, the school and college and health-focused businesses on the Olympic Legacy Park.