Patients to benefit from a new health centre

Patients in the West end of Newcastle are set to benefit from a new health centre after it was given the green light.

Robertson, the infrastructure, support services and construction group was granted planning permission by North Tyneside Council to start work on West Newcastle Primary Care Centre in Elswick. Developers Newcastle and North Tyneside Lift Co, architects -_space, Civil and Structural Engineers Capita, and Mechanical and Electrical Engineers CAD 21 will work with Robertson to deliver the £4million pound project.

Work will start on the Maria Street and Caroline Street site, in Benwell in early 2013 with completion due in early 2014. The new centre will give people living in Scotswood, Benwell and Elswick access to modern premises and a wider range of high quality services, much closer to their homes.

The Betts Avenue and Holmside GP Practices along with the Adelaide Terrace branch surgery and Atkinson Road Clinic will move to the modern, sustainable and accessible buildings. Regional Managing Director for Robertson, Andy McLeod, said:
“We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone which means that building work can now begin. West Newcastle Primary Care Centre will greatly improve the provision of healthcare facilities in the area and better meet the health needs of local residents on their doorstep.”

The centre, will aim to achieve BREEAM Excellent status which is in accordance with current Department of Health guidance. BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has been widely acknowledged as the measure to describe a building's environmental performance.

Russell Taylor, Operations Director at developer NNT LIFT Co, said: “It is fantastic news that building work can now get underway so we can move ahead with this exciting development which will be a real asset to the area. The attractive design will compliment the surrounding area.”