Planning approval secured for new health centre
1 August 2011
Planning approval has been granted for a new state-of-the-art
health centre in Knowsley which will increase primary care services
in the community and contribute to the regeneration of Kirkby town
centre.
Plans have been approved for Knowsley Health & Wellbeing to
replace St Chad’s Walk-in Centre and Kirkby Health Suite with a
brand new, three story health centre in the heart of
Kirkby.
The £9.5m development is set to house two GP practices currently
situated at Trentham Road Medical Centre and MacMillan Surgery,
Dulas Road, community dental services, a Walk- in Centre, GP-led
health centre and a series of rooms which can be used for a range
of health and wellbeing services. The scheme comes hot on the
heels of news that the Government has given the go-ahead for wider
plans to regenerate Kirkby town centre.
Rosemary Hawley MBE, Chair NHS Knowsley said: “We’re delighted
to secure approval on this scheme which will enable us to add to
the regeneration of Kirkby town centre and bring more modernised
primary care services to the local community. We’ve worked
closely with Knowsley Council to ensure our scheme complements the
existing plans for regeneration and the development will transform
healthcare provision for local residents.
“Now that approval of the plans has been granted, we are looking
forward to working with members of the community and our
development partners to help shape the design and services that are
offered.”
Kirkby Health Centre will be the latest in a string of health
resource centres to offer easy access to a range of high quality
primary care services. The development is part of the
LIFT initiative (Local Improvement Finance Trust), a joint venture
between the local public sector and private sector partner, Renova
Developments.
The recently approved scheme in Kirkby town centre from Spenhill
Regeneration (the regeneration subsidiary of Tesco) will bring more
than £200 million investment into Kirkby and create a new Tesco
superstore, additional retail space and other improvements.
It will also generate valuable employment opportunities in the
local area.
Cllr Jayne Aston, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Health
& Social Care commented: “This new state-of-the-art
health facility in the heart of Kirkby will be a welcome addition
to the wider regeneration work that is planned for the town
centre.
“More than £200 million of private investment is due to be
ploughed into Kirkby in the coming years and with fantastic public
sector projects like this one also planned, it is an exciting time
for the town and its people.
“In addition to this NHS investment, the council is also
pledging more than £5 million into improving Kirkby market and
reworking and refurbishing the Kirkby Suite.”
Construction on the Kirkby Health Centre is due to commence in
January 2012 and will be operational by the end of March 2013, the
scheme will achieve BREEAM excellence standard and boast a series
of energy efficient features.