Member Article

High praise for health project

There was high praise for a Newcastle health project when community partners climbed to the roof of the new structure to applaud its construction.

A local councillor and a member of the campaign group behind the Chapel House venture visited the site to help tile the roof of what will become a purpose built primary care health centre.

Cllr. Marc Donnelly, who represents the Westerhope Ward on Newcastle City Council and Pat Hillicks, a member for the Chapel House Advisory Group, dropped in to see progress on the new centre which is being constructed by Galliford Try.

The contractor is working for the developer Ashley House plc, a specialist company supporting NHS trusts, health and social care services and GPs, on the site of an old church hall and clinic, demolished to make way for the new facilities.

By the end of the year it will provide over 1,500 square metres of space for the Parkway and Holmside GP Practices, a pharmacy and self contained rooms for other healthcare providers.

Said Cllr. Donnelly: “Many people have worked for many years to bring about this new centre and I am delighted to see such progress being made. This will ensure that the health facilities on Chapel House are fit for purpose and offer a building and services which will greatly benefit the community.”

David Milburn, Construction Manager with Ashley House, added: “It has taken five years to reach this position and we are delighted to see the project now really taking shape. We look forward to seeing the GPs and their patients enjoying and benefiting from the new premises later in the year.”

Simon Grylls, Contracts Manager with Galliford Try, commented: “We have very much enjoyed working on a project which has such great community support and we have forged some very positive relationships with local people along the way. I am sure that, when complete, the health centre will be greatly appreciated and well used.”

The 12 month project, designed by Ashley House Plc, with Edwards Architecture providing detailed design support to Galliford Try, involves the construction of a steel framed structure, finished with brick and tile exterior, which benefits from high levels of insulation and air source heat pumps to maximise heat retention.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .