UNIVERSITY College Worcester could learn from the experiences of a Hampshire college as it takes on the redevelopment of a rundown area of the Faithful City.

The college has earmarked the former Royal Infirmary site, in Castle Street, for a second campus.

In redeveloping the site, which includes a Grade II listed chapel and the original, Georgian infirmary, built in 1797, the college is mirroring a similar development, by King Alfred's College, in Winchester.

King Alfred's College has created a landmark building for the city out of a former run-down and dilapidated school house, turning it into a performing arts centre, at a cost of £6.5m.

It also built a 650-bed student village on the site, which had been the home of an old preparatory school.

The college had bought the 15-acre site for £4.5m in 1995 specifically to build the £16m student village, and admits the rundown and dilapidated school house was the "poison pill" it had to swallow to achieve its aims.

However, it has been turned into a place of which everyone in the city can be proud, whether they attend the college or not.

Tommy Geddes, vice principal (administration) for the college, said the site had been attractive to the college because of the open playing fields that could be built on, enabling the development of the student village.

"The original schoolhouse was totally dilapidated but it was a problem we took on for the benefit of the open space," said Mr Geddes.

"We built a 650-bed student village, which has been highly successful. It has more than doubled the amount of accommodation and it is of an improved quality.

"But to do that we had to take on the listed building and do something with it - the poison pill, if you like.

"It was a nightmare, because it was listed and was incredibly costly to do. It was certainly a struggle, but a struggle that was worthwhile."

The performing arts centre, which opened in 2001, is now a flagship building for the college and the city, and is let out for public use.

"We refurbished an eyesore and an embarrassment to the city and turned it into a real flagship building," said Mr Gedddes.

"The village is a huge attraction to students and we can now guarantee a place for all first year students.

"It's a challenge, a development that size, but it has paid off spectacularly."