A new building at the city's Tamar Science Park will be constructed to house the administrative headquarters of the medical school, as well as teaching and research facilities and training laboratories.

The work is part of a £16.5 million scheme to expand the medical school.

Other teaching sites will be at Exeter and Truro, complementing the recently built facilities at St Lukes in Exeter and Portland Square in Plymouth.

Energy efficient

Paul Giles, manager of the Tamar Science Park, said: "Practising healthcare professionals, academic researchers and entrepreneurs will work alongside each other in state-of-the-art facilities and a high-tech, innovative environment.

"We believe this will attract new inward investment and generate significant economic development for the region."

The new building will be constructed using a mixture of natural and modern materials and will be energy efficient using natural ventilation and lighting.

The building project is scheduled for completion in summer 2004 and is a joint venture between the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Government Office South West and the South West Regional Development Agency.