THE arrival of students to the heart of the town is being tipped to deliver a major boost to the borough’s economy.

Conservative Warrington South MP Andy Carter visited the new University of Chester sites in the town centre on Thursday.

University Centre Warrington, which is set to be ready for students in the new year, will deliver education in a building which is currently empty in Time Square and, subject to planning permission, a second location on Barbauld Street.

Mr Carter has welcomed the university’s progress and believes it will support the UK’s recovery from the pandemic by providing opportunities for adults to further develop the skills needed for well-paid employment throughout their lives.

He said: “The vision and plans for a town-based centre for students is very welcome, this is yet another great addition to the area, bringing high-quality education and learning to the centre of Warrington and 1,500 additional people supporting the local economy.

“Not only is this investment great for the regeneration of the local area but it will provide a bigger skills base for local businesses and firms looking to hire people from the north west.

“The development will also complement the £22 million investment we are putting into the Town Deal, providing close links to our hospital and the planned health and social care academy, training the next generation of nurses and health professionals.”

The Time Square space has been refurbished and equipped to be operational from late 2021 and is to be the showcase for the university in Warrington. It will host an information point for members of the public to engage with the learning opportunities available from the university.

It is proposed that a building on Barbauld Street, formerly called Mersey Bank House, will house the majority of the teaching provision for education and nursing. It has been renamed as the Sarah Parker Remond Building after the prominent nineteenth century abolitionist, doctor and women’s rights campaigner, who gave an influential series of lectures in Warrington.

Professor Eunice Simmons, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are thrilled that the university’s plans to give higher education greater prominence in Warrington are taking shape.

“At a busy time for applicants we were excited to share our vision to deliver targeted learning, advice and cultural activities to students and the wider community and support economic growth.

“Through local collaborations with employers, schools and partner colleges, we will be introducing more possibilities for learners, with higher-level vocational skills through degrees and apprenticeships in policing, teaching, health and social care, meeting local and regional skills needs.

“Chester Business School will deliver enterprise and sustainability-focused courses to support a green, inclusive economic recovery.

“We have highly employable graduates. The latest statistics, published this week and reflecting the pandemic period, show that 90 per cent were in employment and/or further study within 15 months of finishing their course, which is above the sector average.”