Robertson, the infrastructure, support services and construction group have begun work on a multi-million pound Joint Service Centre in the retail heart of Whitley Bay.
The £5.5million state-of-the-art facility on York Road will bring together a range of services delivered by North Tyneside Council, North of Tyne Primary Care Trust, and Northumbria Police community service under one roof.
The project will be delivered by developers Newcastle and North Tyneside (NNT) Lift Co - a partnership between the Primary Care Trust and North Tyneside Council - with private sector investors Community Health Partnership and Robertson, who are also developing Whitley Bay’s Spanish City development.
Regional Managing Director for Robertson Andy McLeod said: “We have been working with North Tyneside Council for a number of years on the Whitley Bay Joint Services Centre project and are thrilled to get started on site.”
The facility will be built to the highest environmental standards, targeting BREEAM Excellent, and has been designed with large atrium space running through the centre of the building aiding both natural light levels and the health and wellbeing of staff and visitors alike. The design has been praised by
independent design review panel IGNITE and it is hoped that following completion the scheme will have a significant impact on the regeneration of Whitley Bay town centre.
When completed in spring 2013, the building will include a new state-of-the-art library split over two floors, a tourist information service, a self-contained Primary Care Trust services suite on the first floor for a Social Prescribing Hub - a new initiative with a holistic approach to mental health provisions and social well-being.
A small refreshment and lounge area will be located on the first floor, flexible community rooms and event space as well as a number of office suites.
Russell Taylor, Operations Director at developer NNT LIFT Co, said: “This is major step forward for Whitley Bay’s largest regeneration scheme and great news for the local community. We are very excited to deliver this project which will have a significant effect on the regeneration of Whitley Bay Town Centre.”