A NEW £5 million optometry and clinical skills centre created in a Grade II-listed former NHS laundry has been officially opened.

Author Nathan Filer declared the facility open at UWE Bristol’s Glenside campus at an event attended by students, staff and guests.

The new centre provides modern teaching and learning spaces for trainee paramedics, occupational therapy students, nurses and undergraduates studying the new BSc (Hons) Optometry programme, the only course of its type in the West of England.

Work on the redevelopment, which included the retention of original features, began in December 2017 and was completed last month in time for the start of the academic year.

Professor Steven Neill, pro vice-chancellor and executive dean of the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, said: “This extra 1,400 square metres of practical learning space will be transformational for our students, offering a flexible environment for a range of programmes including our new optometry degree which has proven incredibly popular and addresses a gap in the market regionally.

“It’s also pleasing that our considerate renovation of this historic space has been recognised with a SKA silver rating by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.”