Plans submitted for new £14m Sheffield research centre

Plans for Sheffield Hallam University’s new £14m Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), which is set to ‘revolutionise sport’, have now been submitted.The proposals for the project, which will be delivered by Sheffield Hallam University in partnership with Legacy Park Ltd, have been submitted to Sheffield City Council and will form the centrepiece of Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park.The aim of the AWRC is to ‘improve the health of the nation’ through innovation and tackling key issues such as static levels of physical activity, rising obesity and mental health while also attracting new jobs and investment to the region.It is set to become the most advanced research and development centre for physical activity in the world and is supported by UK government, which has committed £14m to fund the project.Building is expected to start later this year with the centre opening its doors in late 2018.The AWRC will feature indoor and outdoor facilities for 70 researchers to carry out world-leading research on health and physical activity in collaboration with the private sector.Toshiba Medical and Westfield Health were announced as the first major, private sector partners of the AWRC and will provide cutting edge equipment and technology to assist with research.