The James Williams Healthy Living Centre, named in honour of Medway Council's late Director of Public Health, James Williams, represents a landmark moment for healthcare delivery in the region and for the ongoing regeneration of Chatham town centre. Funded in partnership by NHS Kent and Medway and Medway Council, and managed by Medway Community Healthcare (MCH), the facility brings two GP practices and a range of community health services under one roof, in an easily accessible high street location in the heart of the community it serves.
The £15 million health centre has been built by contractor Bauvill and designed by healthcare specialists LSI Architects. Construction commenced in autumn 2024 and has been completed over the last 18 months.
Bringing Healthcare to the High Street
The James Williams Healthy Living Centre represents a clear demonstration of a project that delivers against the UK Government's and NHS Long Term Plan's ambition to move healthcare closer to where people live – reducing reliance on hospital settings, improving access for those who need it most, and addressing health inequalities across Medway and the wider South East.
By repurposing an underutilised floor of the Pentagon Shopping Centre, the project demonstrates how town centre assets can be reimagined to deliver meaningful public benefit. Rather than requiring new construction, the scheme breathes new life into existing built fabric, aligning with NHS net zero carbon ambitions whilst simultaneously supporting high street footfall and the broader regeneration vision for Chatham set out in the 2018 masterplan for the town.
The centre sits alongside a recently completed Innovation and Co-Working Hub – also delivered by LSI Architects for Medway Council on the same floor of the Pentagon – collectively transforming what was previously a collection of vacant retail units into a vibrant, people-centred destination that supports both the health and economic vitality of the town.
Bringing GP practices and community services into the centre of Chatham means that residents – particularly those in communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities – can access care in a familiar, convenient setting, supported by the infrastructure required to underpin the growing residential offer in the town centre.
The centre's importance to the region was underlined almost immediately following handover in March 2026, when NHS Kent and Medway utilised the facility as part of its response to a local meningitis outbreak.
A Complex and Technically Demanding Project
Whilst the vision was clear, the delivery of a cutting-edge NHS healthcare facility within a 1970s shopping centre presented technical and logistical challenges that required deep specialist expertise, creative problem-solving and close collaboration across the entire project team.
"Retrofitting healthcare into buildings not designed for it is never without its challenges," said Mirja Mainwaring, the Project Director at LSI Architects. "The James Williams Healthy Living Centre required us to bring all of our healthcare design expertise into the technical coordination of the project.
“In resolving any challenge there was often a knock-on impact to consider. The team designed a raised access floor to accommodate drainage connections that are vital in healthcare facilities, but this had to be balanced with the need to meet the standard minimum ceiling height in consulting and examination rooms for example.”
“Several unknowns also only emerged once the fit-out works began in earnest. Among the discoveries when the space was stripped back was an historic Boots shopfront and an existing ramp which were then creatively incorporated into the finished design.”
Maximising natural light in a landlocked environment
The deep, landlocked footprint of the first-floor plan meant there was limited access to natural light which is so important when trying to achieve an environment that promotes healing and recovery. Spaces have been placed to maximise access to the natural light provision that was available from roof lights above. Specifying natural materials – including timber oak cladding and doors, warm tones and biophilic finishes – has helped to create a calming, human-centred environment that also meets the stringent infection control requirements of a clinical setting.
Plant, waste and logistics
With space at a premium, spaces not required for direct clinical use have been used to accommodate plant, avoiding the loss of valuable clinical area.
The team developed an alternative waste strategy that met both healthcare compliance requirements and the operational needs of the centre management, so no clinical waste passes through the public circulation areas of the shopping centre.
Max Scally, Head of Pre-construction at Bauvill, said “Retrofitting a modern NHS facility into an existing shopping centre required a level of coordination and problem-solving that goes well beyond a standard fit-out. We are incredibly proud of the way everyone came together to navigate what was a technically complex and demanding build.
To stand in the finished centre and see what has been created for the people of Medway is a real source of pride for the whole Bauvill team. It’s a beautifully designed facility in the heart of the community it serves, and the fact that it was already responding to local health needs within weeks of opening speaks to just how much it was needed. We feel fortunate to have been trusted to deliver it.”
Dr Aly, GP at Bryant Healthcare, said: “We are very excited to be moving into the state-of-the-art, purpose-built James Williams Healthy Living Centre. Our patients will have their health needs provided for in a modern setting with access to MCH community services in the same building, providing convenient all-round healthcare. As a training practice it gives us a chance to further develop doctors and healthcare professionals of the future to give back to our patients – who have long needed a modern building to cater for increasingly complex care needs and long-term conditions.”
Maritime Health Partnership (MHP) relocated into the centre in 23 March and has transferred its established Same Day Assessment Hub, Frailty Team and Prescribing Hub into the new central Chatham location, strengthening responsive and proactive care for local residents. Maritime Health has also relocated its frontline team, including care navigators, GPs and nursing staff from its Pentagon surgery.
The Healthy Living Centre brings together general practice and community services under one roof, supporting earlier intervention, prevention and more coordinated care across the neighbourhood.
Proud to be part of this important development
Dr Pro Mallik, Senior GP Partner at Maritime Health Partnership, Clinical Director for Medway Central Primary Care Network and GP Fellow in Population Health, said: “This centre represents a step change for neighbourhood healthcare in Central Chatham. It provides the platform to deliver more proactive, joined-up and preventative care, particularly for communities who experience the greatest health inequalities.
"My focus has always been on improving long-term health outcomes, not simply responding to illness. By bringing primary care and community services together in one modern, accessible hub, we can intervene earlier, work more collaboratively and support people to stay well for longer. We are proud to be part of this important development and look forward to building a strong, integrated health community that makes a meaningful and lasting difference for local people.”
More opportunities for Medway residents to access healthcare
Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder covering Public Health, said: “The opening of a new healthy living centre is a poignant moment in many ways. This new facility in Chatham town centre provides more opportunities for Medway residents to access healthcare, whilst supporting the NHS’ long-term plan for neighbourhood health – bringing services closer to where residents live and helping us to have an even stronger focus on tackling health inequalities. The centre is named in honour of Medway’s late, and sadly missed, Director of Public Health who strived to transform the health systems in Medway and across Kent.
“James Williams was a compassionate and highly devoted leader, determined to improve health and care outcomes for residents; he championed the underdog and ensured that everyone – of all backgrounds – had the chance to achieve their potential. The James Williams Healthy Living Centre will continue his legacy long into the future.”
NHS Kent and Medway Chief Executive Adam Doyle said: “It’s fantastic to see this healthy living centre open for the people of Chatham to use. The healthy living centre will help us achieve our neighbourhood health remit, a new way of delivering health and care services that focuses on supporting people closer to home, in their local communities, and helping them stay well for longer. Healthcare experts will be able to respond better to local needs and provide care that feels simpler, more connected and more personal.”
A true partnership project
Martin Riley, Managing Director of MCH, said: “This centre has been in plans for years and I’m proud that MCH is a part of this embodiment of our local commitment to the NHS Long Term Plan and place-based care. It has been a true partnership project in every way and I’m grateful to our colleagues at Medway Council and NHS Kent and Medway for their contributions and valuable experience throughout.”
