A world-class children’s health research and technology centre could be built at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park if the City Council approves an agreement for a lease on the Council-owned site.
Members of the Finance Policy Committee are due to vote on the recommendation of an agreement between the Council and Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust so land at the park can be transformed into the National Centre for Child Health Technology.
Should the agreement for a lease be approved, the new centre will help create a healthier future for children and young people through innovation, technology and outstanding care.
It will have all the dedicated spaces and facilities needed to design, create and test new child health technologies. This will include a state-of-the-art gait and motion laboratory including a Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN), and a Creative Manufacturing Zone with 3D printing, robotics, laser cutting and other technology tools to develop prototypes. There will also be an Intelligent Home and Intelligent Ward which will create simulated real-life environments for testing technologies.
Cllr Zahira Naz, chair of the Finance Policy Committee, said: “This is a crucial step in the process of bringing the National Centre for Child Health Technology to life. Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is one of three dedicated children’s hospital trusts in the UK and this National Centre will take their work to the next level.
“The new Centre also forms a crucial part of our regeneration of Attercliffe, alongside the Waterside project which will see around 1,000 new homes built, and the transformation of the former Adelphi Cinema and it builds on the success we’ve already seen at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.”
Sheffield City Council successfully applied for £9million from the Government’s Local Government Fund to help Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust with the project with a further £6million grant coming from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and £2million from The Children’s Hospital Charity.
John Williams, Deputy Chief Executive of Sheffield Children’s NHS Trust, said: “It’s great to be working in partnership with the Council on this inspiring project that will help create a healthier future for children and young people locally, regionally and nationally. The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is a really unique space that we hope will be a fantastic home to progress innovation and technology in children’s healthcare.”
Members of Sheffield City Council’s Finance Policy Committee are due to meet on Friday 19 July and will vote on the recommendation to approve the land lease with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
