THE government has today (Thurs) committed itself to supporting the Hereford university project.

That commitment was made by Chancellor George Osborne during a speech in Derby that outlined a long term growth plan for the West Midlands.

Mr Osborne said he: “Welcomed proposals being developed in Hereford to create a new university – the government supports the establishment of universities in parts of the UK that currently lack higher education institutions.”

The treasury subsequently confirmed that the Chancellor has asked Universities Minister Greg Clark to work with the Hereford university project team.

Work on an engineering and science based  university for Hereford has been underway since 2013 with a plan to spread the campus across available sites in Hereford city centre.

Already, the project is acknowledged as having moved from feasibility study to “making it happen”.

The project's philanthropy company is looking to  raise at least £25 million identified as needed to see the university through its first years.

Leading US institutions Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have been advising on structure, governance and administration.

The project has a prospective partner in the Massachusetts based Olin College of Engineering and an intention to establish a "collaboratory" with two Russell Group universities to share and develop Olin’s teaching methods in the UK.