Hospital, medical research centre, and university centre proposed for Doncaster waterfront

Minutes published by Doncaster College reveal the buildings are among the suggestions put forward to regenerate the area next to the River Don in the town centre.

The Waterfront is already home to the main Doncaster College building, which opened 14 years ago. And there are plans to build a new Network Rail building on the other site of the water.

But no other major schemes have progressed in that area recently. Doncaster Council says it is too early for it to comment on any plans.

Minutes from the college’s board meeting reveal the early plans, which may link in with a Doncaster university city proposal.

They state: “The University City Project and Waterfront Development are exploring the vision to create a university presence in Doncaster.

“Alongside this proposal, the council is developing a master plan for the Waterfront. Ambitions for the site are for a mixed-use scheme, linking education, business, residential, culture and leisure facilities.

“This currently included early proposals for a new teaching hospital, medical research centre and university centre.”

In March 2018, plans to redevelop a section of the waterfront moved forward.

Doncaster Council's cabinet agreed to draw down £750,000 worth of Sheffield City Region cash towards a £1.5 million project to improve Friars Gate Bridge, which is designed to boost access to Marshgate.

It is linked to plans by Network Rail to build an £8.5 million state of the art base for 600 staff on the island in the Don.

At the time, major projects officer Simon Rhodes told cabinet in a report that the scheme would mean redeveloping the site and providing excellent pedestrian links to the town centre, which would be an indirect economic benefit to the immediate area. It was called the Waterfront West Project.

Mr Rhodes added: "The strengthening and renewal of this important bridge structure will also help unlock wider commercial development in the surrounding markets area of Doncaster which will open up opportunities for further private sector investment and regeneration."