A £9.2 million development which will improve health and community services in the heart of Wallsend is now underway.
Foundations have been set for the new Hadrian Health Centre, which is being delivered by Esh Construction alongside Assura, the national primary care premises specialist. The building will become home to Park Road Medical Practice and Portugal Place Health Centre, as well as a range of community health services for more than 20,000 patients.
The centre is being built to modern, environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art specifications. Solar photo voltaic (PV) panels will be installed on the roof to capture energy for the all-electric facility – limiting electricity required from the grid and reducing carbon footprint.
Located on a site next to the Forum Shopping Centre in Wallsend, onlookers will soon catch a glimpse of the steel frame for the three-storey building rising from the ground.
The centre will bring together local clinicians and a range of community health services, while Assura will work as the practices’ long-term premises partner.
Esh’s Construction Director, Brian Joyce, said: “This scheme marks the first project Esh will deliver in partnership with Assura. We’re delighted to be involved in a scheme which will bring huge benefits to the Wallsend community. As a local contractor, we will harness the benefits of a strong regional presence and supply chain to deliver quality social and economic value throughout this project.”
Andrew Cooper, Senior Development Manager at Assura said: “Bringing together all partners to the site for the first time is a great milestone for the project. We’re fortunate to be working with clinical partners who share a vision for the future of primary and community care services and this centre will create a welcoming, modern and sustainable setting to support them.”
Health partners in the project include the two GP practices, NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Community Services.
Dr Nathalie Ellis, GP from Portugal Place Health Centre said: “To finally see the foundations in place is really exciting. It’s been a vision on paper for a long time, but to see the outline of the building at the site shows it’s well on its way. We really hope the patients from both practices will follow its progress over the months ahead, as this is all about providing them with a better healthcare environment.”
Dr Richard Scott, clinical chair NHS North Tyneside CCG said: “It’s fantastic that work on the ground is now well underway and we are looking forward to watching it progress over the coming months. This new centre will certainly be a welcome boost to local health services as well helping the further regeneration of Wallsend town centre.”
Esh Construction is working in partnership with ARP Consulting, West Hart Partnership and Identity Consult to deliver the scheme which is expected to complete in Summer 2022.
This scheme marks the first project Esh will deliver in partnership with Assura. We’re delighted to be involved in a scheme which will bring huge benefits to the Wallsend community. As a local contractor, we will harness the benefits of a strong regional presence and supply chain to deliver quality social and economic value throughout this project.”
