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Report of the Council on the construction of a Small Animal Surgery and Farm Animal Medicine Centre for the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine

The COUNCIL beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The Veterinary School's last review committee in 1990 made a number of recommendations including the need for radical improvement in physical facilities. Since that time a major rebuilding programme for teaching and research facilities has been undertaken to make up for the lack of development over several decades. Although much has been achieved the refurbishment of the clinical facilities has remained a constant need. The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital is vital to the teaching of the Clinical Veterinary course, and must maintain its caseload to continue its work. The hospital is in competition with increasingly sophisticated private veterinary referral centres. As with any other business, investment is absolutely necessary in order to maintain a competitive position.

2. The present facilities form part of the original 1950s design. A feasibility study was carried out to establish whether the facilities could be upgraded. However it became apparent that economic conver-sion would be seriously hampered by the construction form of the hospital and that any solution would be a compromise and poor value for money. In 1999 Saunders Boston Architects were commissioned to assess whether a new operating facility should be located on land to the rear of the main hospital adjacent to the Small Animal Hospital Wing.

3. The right location for the Farm Animal Medicine Centre is on the same part of this site adjacent to the large animal operating theatre (John Hickman Surgical Suite) and the large animal unit, both of which are extensively used by the farm animal unit.

4. The scheme is consistent with the priority given in the Department's development plan and the West Cambridge plan. The completed scheme must necessarily be constructed in three phases, as demolition of two outmoded existing buildings is required. An enabling work programme consisting of the construction of a new hay barn and workshop is necessary to replace these outmoded buildings.

5. A scheme has been prepared by Saunders Boston for the Small Animal Surgery, Farm Animal Medicine Centre, new hay barn, and vehicle workshop, all as shown on the accompanying drawing. The proposed buildings will provide a total of 762 sq.m. additional space.

6. The Finance Committee have recommended the proposals for approval. The estimated cost of the work is £1.725m including fees and VAT. The Department has secured 100% funding for the scheme from the following sources: a loan from the University of £1.305m, to be repaid over five years and a loan for the remainder from the accumulated balance of the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital.

7. In view of the urgency to commence this building contract by the Easter Vacation 2002 it is proposed to submit a planning application by the end of March 2002.

8. Drawings of the proposed scheme are displayed for the information of the University in the Schools Arcade.

9. The Council recommend:

I. That approval be given for the construction of a Small Animal Surgery, Farm Animal Medicine Centre, hay barn, and workshop at the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine.

II. That the Treasurer be authorized to accept a tender for the works within the available funding.

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Cambridge University Reporter, 27 March 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.