WORK has started on a £1.5m building as part of Newcastle's Science City initiative.

Dewjo'c Architects, which has offices in Teesside, Tyneside and London, has designed the Clinical Ageing Research Unit, part of Newcastle University's Campus for Ageing and Vitality.

The campus, at Newcastle General Hospital, is one of four sites under development as part of Science City, which will create a centre for excellence, allowing world-class research into ageing and vitality.

The building will form part of plans to turn some of the Newcastle General Hospital site into a research park, as acute services are moved to the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital.

Dewjo'c director Steve Agar said: "The Science City development on the General Hospital site is now really beginning to take shape. This is the third building Dewjo'c has designed here, having been involved in the development and planning of the campus for several years now.

"The facility will allow scientists and healthcare specialists to carry out world-class research into ageing, no doubt resulting in important developments.

"Newcastle is at the forefront of emerging medical science and it is very exciting to be part of such an important project."

Professor Oliver James, of Newcastle University, said: "In the next five years, we want to be the premier place for research and treatment for elderly people."