NHS Property Services and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board have opened the modernised Ingol Healthcare Centre after several years of work.
The project received over £1.3m in investment, over £500k coming from developer contributions secured through the planning process at Preston City Council and £730,000 coming from NHS Property Services (NHSPS).
For usage of this money, £240k was specifically allocated to energy improvements through NHSPS.
The improved facilities are expected to service approximately an additional 35,000 patients and a total of 5,300 new homes in North West Preston.
In addition to a full refurbishment of existing clinical rooms, the project will add seven new clinical rooms to increase capacity for GP services and convert the site into a Net Zero facility.
The refurbishment transformed underutilised areas into high-impact clinical environments
For the Net Zero ambitions, the facility features new forms of insulation (cavity wall and loft insulation), the move to electric heating, and energy-efficient upgrades such as LED lighting, double-glazed windows and solar PV panels.
These measures will ensure long-term cost savings and reduced carbon emissions.
The project was launched to address the growing demand for GP clinical services and to improve the sustainability and long term future of the building.
Ben Gammer, NHSPS Estate Strategy Lead, said: “This project is a standout example of how smart space optimisation can directly support the goals of the NHS’s 10-year health plan.
“By transforming underutilised areas into high-impact clinical environments, we’re not only increasing capacity but also reinforcing our commitment to delivering accessible, quality care in every neighbourhood. It’s a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and sustainable design.”
The build journey
NHSPS and the ICB’s Strategic Estates and Infrastructure Team played a central role in the project, handling everything from the initial Section 106 bid, negotiations with GPs and other delivery partners, design and tender phases, to legal agreements and project management.
Deputy Mayor of Preston Councillor Nweeda Khan said: “The improvements at the centre have been made possible by what is known as Section 106 agreements in relation to various planning applications made to Preston City Council.”
Section 106 agreements, also known as planning obligations or developer contributions, are legal agreements between a local planning authority and a developer.
These agreements are used to mitigate the negative impacts of a development on the local area and community. They ensure that developers contribute to local infrastructure, services, and amenities that are needed as a result of the development.
Khan added: “These agreements are made to reduce the impact of a significant development on a local community, by providing such things as affordable housing, improving public spaces, enhancing local services or the environment.
We are grateful that the S106 funding was in place to support it, however, even with the availability of the funding, the project has been incredibly challenging
“The upgrades will make a huge difference to the quality of service the health centre can provide and to the number of people in the area who now have access to essential services.”
Geoff Lavery, Strategic Estate Lead for the ICB, said: “We are grateful that the S106 funding was in place to support it, however, even with the availability of the funding, the project has been incredibly challenging. The aim has always been to deliver increased capacity, sustainability and improved primary care services in the are,a and we were determined to achieve those aims. I hope the delivery of the Ingol project highlights the commitment of the ICB to serve the needs of its patient populations.”
Now completed, the site’s increased GP capacity will alleviate pressure on local services, while the energy-efficient infrastructure will offer long-term benefits for both the local healthcare system and the environment.