Boost for healthcare in London borough
CONSTRUCTION work will start in the next few weeks on a new health and social care centre in Whitton in the London borough of Richmond. Due to open in spring 2012, the project will be delivered by developer, South West London Health Partnerships, on behalf of NHS Richmond under the NHS LIFT initiative. The new centre will provide space for two relocated GP practices – the Crane Park Medical Centre and the Jubilee Avenue Surgery – as well as an NHS dentist, long-term condition management services, physiotherapy, podiatry and community health services and health and wellbeing programmes. It will also provide offices for the integrated community health and social care team, a partnership between Richmond Council and Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust. The 1,800sq m, three-storey facility has been designed by architects, Penoyre & Prasad, and will be built by Willmott Dixon, LIFT company, Building Better Health’s construction partner. It will be located on the junction of Percy Road and Hospital Bridge Road, Sian Bates, chairman of NHS South West London, said. “The centre will provide the opportunity to access GP, dental, mental health and other therapy services within one modern, sustainable and purpose-built building.”
Shortlist for RNOH revamp decided
THREE bidders have been shortlisted by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RNOH) for phase one of the redevelopment of its Stanmore hospital under a private finance initiative (PFI). Steve Turner, PFI project director, said: “We were very impressed with the quality of the bids from a range of potential partners and are pleased to announce that Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty and Prospect Healthcare have been selected to work with us on the next stage of the redevelopment process. This is a really exciting time for the RNOH as we look forward to realising our vision to provide state-of-the-art facilities for our patients.”
Revamp of Walsall hospital continues
These important works will give the inpatient centre a much-needed refresh and bring these areas into line with the newer parts of our site
A YEAR after the opening of Walsall Manor Hospital’s £170m redevelopment, the existing parts of the hospital not included in the rebuild are set to undergo a facelift. The revamp of the inpatient centre has begun and will be phased over a 12-week period. The works will include redecoration of walls, enhancement of lighting and the replacement of doors. All sub-corridors that lead to ward areas are also to be included in the works as well as reception area and all stairwells. Lincoln Dawkin, interim commercial director at the hospital, said: “These important works form part of our long-term estates strategy and will give the inpatient centre a much-needed refresh and bring these areas into line with the newer parts of our site.”
New homes for Yeovil health workers
YEOVIL District Hospital will soon be able to offer top-quality accommodation to staff following the signing of a contract to build 36 new homes near the site. The development will provide one and two-bedroom flats housing up to 70 junior doctors and other staff during their training. The facility will be constructed, managed and maintained by Yarlington Housing Group, with the new properties situated in St George’s Avenue following demolition of the post-war pre-cast reinforced concrete properties. Building work is due to be completed by August 2012 and the contract will run for 25 years.
Green light for medical teaching centre
The building will incorporate numerous environmentally-friendly features including natural light and ventilation, external solar shades, photovoltaic solar panels, a combined heat and power (CHP) system and a free-cooling labyrinth
WOULD-BE doctors will learn their trade in state-of-the-art facilities after the University of Leicester announced plans to build a new £30m medical teaching building. The facility, which will house teaching rooms and computer laboratories, has been designed to be one of the most energy-efficient buildings of its kind in the UK. The announcement follows the signing of an agreement between the University of Leicester and Regent College to utilise the site currently owned by the college at the corner of University Road and Lancaster Road. Grant Charman, deputy director of estates at the university, said: “In line with the university’s sustainability plan, the building will incorporate numerous environmentally-friendly features including natural light and ventilation, external solar shades, photovoltaic solar panels, a combined heat and power (CHP) system and a free-cooling labyrinth, which uses only a fraction of the energy of conventional air-conditioning. There will also be a planted wall and green roof on the side nearest Regent College.” The university intends to submit a detailed planning application to Leicester City Council in May 2011. Subject to approval, it will then agree a purchase of the site from the college with view to developing the site by the 2013/14 academic year. The proposed project will be funded from a variety of sources including use of loans, reserves and support from the NHS.
Facelift for London hospital
WORK has been completed on a £2.5m refurbishment project at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Led by Longcross Construction, the work to create a new adult outpatients department was carried out over four months. Subcontractor, RJD Interiors, a carpentry and joinery specialist, supplied all medical cabinets, worktops and shelves, fire signs and extinguishers as well as supplying fitted lockers, bench seating and baby changing units. Daran Jones, managing director of the company, said: “It was a very successful project and we both worked extremely well together.” Darren Hazel, project manager at Longcross Construction, added: “RJD Interiors was instrumental in ensuring the fit-out of the project was completed on time.”
Bad weather stalls health centre launch
A £30m leisure, health and research centre is on track to open in Bolton early next year after a delay caused by the bad winter weather. The Bolton One Centre is a partnership between NHS Bolton, the local authority and the University of Bolton. It will include a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, gym facilities, laboratory facilities, a test-running track, sports centre, teaching and seminar rooms and an NHS urgent care, diagnostic and treatment centre. Tim Evans, chief executive of NHS Bolton, said: “It’s great that people can now begin to see how this landmark building will look.”
ALSO IN THE NEWS: Portakabin, the UK’s leading modular building specialist, has introduced a CPD programme to help architects, contractors and facilities managers in both the public and private sectors improve their understanding of modular construction…