Work has started to fit out a new health centre at Beam Park in Rainham, Essex.
Expected to open next year, the facility will be built over two floors within a 12-storey building in Halewood Way, providing a new GP surgery as well as a range of other specialist GP-led services.
The 1,500sq m space will include 22 consulting rooms, three interview rooms, one enhanced treatment room, and an open-plan office with space for 25 desks.
Plans for the health centre were agreed as part of the approval for Countryside Partnerships’ and L&Q’s 3,000-home regeneration of the former Ford factory site.
The plans have been drawn up by the local NHS working closely with Barking and Dagenham and Havering councils, Countryside Partnerships, and L&Q.
Having access to high-quality services in modern facilities will help people stay fit and well and enable them to lead healthy lives
And work is now under way on the fit out of the new centre, following the successful completion of the external and shell elements of the building.
Sarah See, managing director for primary care at NHS North East London, said: “It is really exciting to see work starting on the new health centre, which will be a fantastic asset to the local community.
“As well as providing a range of vital health services for Beam Park residents, it will play an important role in the work we are doing with our local partners to address health inequalities and encourage healthier lifestyles.
“Having access to high-quality services in modern facilities will help people stay fit and well and enable them to lead healthy lives.”
As well as providing a range of vital health services for Beam Park residents, it will play an important role in the work we are doing with our local partners to address health inequalities and encourage healthier lifestyles
Councillor Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, added: “A new health centre will be a welcome addition to this development and will provide vital health services for the new Beam Park community, ensuring residents have access to the latest facilities in a tailor-made centre on their doorstep.”
The exterior completion of the new health centre is a significant milestone in the progress of the first two phases of the wider Beam Park masterplan, which also includes 1,158 homes.
When complete, Beam Park will have extensive facilities including two schools, retail spaces, a gym, a nursery, a multi-faith centre, and two state-of-the-art energy centres.
And around 44% of the development has been allocated for publicly-accessible green space, which includes a 3.5-hectare central park in the heart of the development with the River Beam running through it.
