Assura on site with Wirral surgery

Assura, the dominant healthcare landlord based in Warrington, has this week started construction of a new GP surgery in Broadway, Wallasey.

The project is being delivered in joint venture with LSP Developments and involves relocating the St Hilary Brow Group Practice, which has four GP partners, from existing premises in a former residential and retail unit on Wallasey Road.

The new 13,000 sq ft practice, designed by Midlands-based architects West Hart Partnership, will also enable the doctors to add a minor surgery suite.

Tom Cooke, development manager at Assura Group, said: "Having acquired the site back in 2006, we have since been working very hard with our development team, the GPs and Wirral NHS Trust to get to this stage. The consultation period with the GPs was hugely important in terms of getting the design and layout of the surgery fit for purpose and we are delighted that the construction process has now begun."

Phil Lilley, director of LSP Developments, said: "We are extremely proud of the manner in which the design has been developed, not only in meeting the needs of the GPs and NHS Trust, but also the very specific requirements of Wirral Borough Council's planning team. The site posed a number of challenges including a difficult location and the topography of the site which had to be considered at every stage of the planning and development process."

Dr James Kingsland, lead GP at St Hilary Brow Group Practice, concluded: "The practice team are hugely excited that the project has begun and that we will soon see the foundation stones of our new surgery being laid."

Pochin Construction is the appointed contractor for the development and completion is expected in the summer of 2012.