A MAJOR financial boost will provide new facilities for a leading Forest of Dean education establishment.

A £14.8m loan has been secured by Hartpury University which will go towards funding a new Learning Resource Centre and other new projects at the campus.

Mr Russell Marchant, Vice-Chancellor of the university and Principal of Hartpury College, said: “We’re dedicated to ensuring that all of our students have access to the very latest equipment and facilities and a supportive, healthy and welcoming campus on which to live and study.”

The planned new Learning Resource Centre is currently in the design and planning stage and will include a traditional library, dedicated careers advice space, flexible learning areas, meeting spaces and a cafe.

It is due to be completed by 2022.

The long-term financing, which has been secured from Triodos Bank, comes nine months after Olympic Games multi-medal rower Dame Katherine Grainger opened an £8.8m sports acadamy on the campus.

And, in the last ten years, Hartpury has invested more than £50m in state-of-the-art campus facilties which also include the world’s largest equine education facility, an animal therapy centre, fully-equipped science laboratories and a new student accommodation block.

Mr Marchant added: “We’re delighted to be working with Triodos Bank on our latest exciting project that will further enhance the range of facilities we provide for our growing number of students.”

Mr Paul Nicoll, social and cultural team manager in business banking for Triodos Bank UK, said the funding was arranged due to the university’s ‘impressive’ track record.

Mr Nicoll said: “We are impressed by Hartpury’s academic standards and inclusive attitude. Its continued investment in students and facilities demostrates the university’s commitment to helping students achieve their goals and find future employment.

“Quality education is key to enabling social cohesion and inclusion which is why supporing the education sector is of great importance to Triodos Bank.”