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• Deal marks healthy new start for Raven Court

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Halewood is set to see the start of a £15 million development that will bring new public services and shops.

The first phase of the development is the construction of an £8 million modern; purpose built public services building at the heart of the local community.

Knowsley Council, Knowsley Primary Care Trust and developers Partners4Lift have signed a deal to transform Raven Court and surrounding waste lands.

Building work on this first phase starts this month and will be completed within 12-14 months.

This ground breaking first phase of development brings together in one building an extensive range of health, council and other public services. Once complete it will be the first of its kind in the UK and is already attracting significant interest from similar organisations across the UK who want to replicate it.
Councillor Ron Round, Leader of Knowsley Council, said: “The regeneration of Raven Court is a positive sign of how we are integrating essential services to improve people’s lives. The partnership approach will deliver unsurpassed benefits to the area and its people. This is a major initiative that will create a pleasant and exciting heart to the centre of Halewood.”

The public service building will house three GP surgeries, a nurse led treatment centre, a community pharmacy and dental services. Alongside will be a council one stop shop, cash office, post office, library, together with accommodation for partners such as Halewood Town Council, Knowsley Citizens Advice Bureau, Knowsley Housing Trust, Halewood Credit Union and Jobs, Education and Training (JETs). There will also there be offices for hire for start-up businesses and meeting rooms for community use.

Rosemary Hawley, Chair of Knowsley Primary Care Trust said: “I’m especially pleased at the involvement of local people in the planning of this development. They have played a vital part in bringing this long held dream to reality. Working with Knowsley Council and other partner organisations means this new centre will really belong to the local community, who have campaigned so hard for it.”

The next phase of the development is to create a £7 million retail centre for Halewood including a supermarket. This will see the demolition of the existing shopping parade and building of a new retail centre. Work is expected to start following the completion of the public services building.

Photos: How the new development at Raven Court, Halewood, will look.

Editor’s notes:

• Knowsley Council secured £0.723m European Regional Development Fund award to enable the financial deal to be signed.
• Partners 4 LIFT = NHS Lift Partner for Knowsley, Halton & St. Helens and Warrington PCT’s.
  
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