Work has started on the development of a new 17,000sq ft primary care facility in Leicester.
Assura Group has begun building the Victoria Park Medical Centre, which will provide purpose-built accommodation for the Freeman’s Common Health Centre, which is currently housed in premises that do not comply with modern healthcare standards and cannot be upgraded due to their Grade 2 listed status.
The new facility has been designed to incorporate a number of environmental features including a ‘bio-diverse’ roof, with native grass and wildflowers. There will also be a wetland area near the building, and significant tree planting within and around the site. In addition, a planted ‘bund’ will screen the building from the surrounding sports pitch, and the former tennis courts near to the site will be landscaped into a native flower meadow.
Internally the building has been desiged to provide a therapeutic and welcoming environment for patients.
Simon Gould, development manager at Assura Group, said: “The Victoria Park Medical Centre will be a real asset to the area. Not only is it designed to be pleasant to the eye and complementary to the surrounding park, but we believe that it will really boost the quality of medical care available.”
The surgery will serve both students from the nearby university and local residents and it is proposed that a pharmacy will also operate from the building.
The surgery has been designed by West Hart Partnership Architects and will be built by Leicestershire-based contractor, Hallam Contracts. It is scheduled to open in the spring of 2013.
