The relocation of the Nursing degree to the historic Valcárcel building in Cádiz remains pending approval from the Junta de Andalucía. The University of Cádiz (UCA) requires the Ministry of Finance's go-ahead to access a four million euro reserve fund, essential for undertaking the necessary renovations and completing the final move.
The formal request was submitted in February but has yet to be finalized. According to UCA's rector, Casimiro Mantell, the aim is to avoid starting construction work without secured funding. Therefore, "not a single stone" will be moved until the use of this allocation for infrastructure is approved. The tender for the works will not be released until this approval is granted.
This reserve fund is part of the UCA's available funds from previous years. Out of the twelve million euros the university has, four million will be allocated to the Valcárcel project. Another six million will be invested in the expansion of Education Sciences, and the remainder will be used to adapt the Bodega Campuzano in Puerto Real as an educational center.
The Valcárcel building, currently undergoing facade renovations thanks to an agreement between the Regional Government and the Provincial Council, has been the subject of various usage proposals, including hotel development. However, under the current municipal government led by Bruno García at the Cádiz City Council, the renovation has focused on transforming the space into an educational hub. It is anticipated that once the funds are available, construction will likely begin next year, allowing for the relocation of Physiotherapy and, in the near future, Pharmacy, which would enroll approximately 300 students.
The four million euros will be divided into two phases: the first for the interior adaptation and installation of the building, and the second for defining specific uses and equipment. The UCA is also exploring possibilities for improving public transport links to other parts of the city and the province to facilitate daily student commutes.
The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, visited the transformation works of Valcárcel in mid-January. The first phase, initiated in the last quarter of the previous year with a total investment of 5.8 million euros from the regional administration and the Provincial Council of Cádiz, includes the demolition of rear warehouses and the planned creation of a public square. Work also focuses on consolidating the building's envelope, including replacing floor slabs, restoring facades, and waterproofing roofs.
“"It is a triumph, a triumph of cooperation and collaboration between administrations. This building, a historic building, a landmark in the city of Cádiz and in Andalusia, abandoned for more than two decades, is now undergoing transformation and will become a reality for the city. This building is being recovered, it is already under construction, work is underway, it is advancing month by month, and the citizens of Cádiz will have the capacity and the possibility to enjoy it."
