WORCESTER’s new university city campus has been formally opened by the Duke of Gloucester.

The university has spent millions transforming the site of the old Worcester Royal Infirmary in Castle Street into a modern teaching centre.

Yesterday the Duke toured the Charles Hastings Building, which now houses the university’s business school, as well as a new health and wellbeing centre, before unveiling a plaque.

A museum, reflecting the building’s past, is due to be built later this year.

The Duke – who is the university’s chancellor – spoke to staff and students before giving a speech to gathered dignitaries.

“I am delighted to be here again,” he told them. “There are three reasons why I am delighted.

“Firstly, because in the time when we have to be careful about how we use our resources it is wonderful to see a large building like this not being knocked down but being refurbished.

“Secondly, of course, the building was not just any hospital.

This was a pioneering hospital which demonstrated why you need hospitals in the first place. We should remember it in the way you will with the museum.

“The third reason is that it is part of the expanding university, with all its ideas. It is a young, thrusting university like this one which develops the provisions that we need for the years ahead.

“I wish the very best of luck to everybody who comes here and I hope it will continue to be a useful and happy place.”

Last year the university was forced to scale down its plans for the new £100 million five-acre campus after the Government cut its funding.

The first phase of the development – the university’s halls of residence for 300 students – had already opened on the site in September 2009.

But an underground conference centre and a multipurpose teaching block, which would have fronted Croft Road, have been put on hold.

Among the people marking the official opening yesterday – which happened to be International Nurse’s Day – were a number of healthcare professionals, as well as people who had worked in the old infirmary.

The Mayor of Worcester, Coun Mike Layland, said: “There are lots of memories here and it means a lot to a lot of people. My wife used to work here in the X-ray department. It has been quite an experience to see what they have done.”