New dental school to transform oral health in Norfolk

The funding, provided through the Greater Norwich Growth Board’s Infrastructure Investment Fund, will support a new School of Oral Health providing state of the art facilities to train the next generation of dentists.

The new teaching space at the Edith Cavell Building on the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital campus, will include clinical-grade fittings and specialist training equipment, alongside a teaching laboratory, seminar rooms and phantom heads used to simulate patient treatment. When open, the school will be able to accommodate up to 30 undergraduate students each year, creating a vital pipeline of skilled dentists for the region.

GNGB funding will be used to deliver the shell and core of the new school, with match funding from the UEA to fit out and equip the facility. Together, the investment represents a significant commitment to improving healthcare provision across South Norfolk and beyond.

Leader of South Norfolk Council, Daniel Elmer said:

The need for change is clear. Access to NHS dental appointments remains a major concern for many of our residents, with long waiting lists and very limited availability. Norfolk ranks among the lowest performing areas in the country for access to NHS dentistry, highlighting the importance of us developing local solutions.”

The new school is expected to make a huge difference with students starting to work on real life patients as soon as 2028. By training dentists locally, it will help strengthen the workforce available to existing practices and increase the likelihood that graduates will build their careers in Norfolk. The project is also notable nationally, as it will be the first new dental school to open in the UK since 2005.

Looking ahead, ambitions for the facility continue to grow. Planning is already underway for a further phase of expansion that would increase the number of training places available. Proposals include extending facilities within and beyond the Edith Cavell Building allowing the school to support many more students each year.

Councillor Elmer added:

Investing in skills, education and healthcare infrastructure promises lasting benefits for our residents, helping to improve access to dental care while supporting economic growth and developing a highly skilled local workforce.”

For more information, visit the Greater Norwich Growth Board website.