New PCT centre planned for Kensington
Liverpool & Sefton Health Partnership has secured planning consent to build a £5m neighbourhood health centre on Edge Lane in Liverpool.
The Taylor Young-designed centre will contain two GP practices currently located in temporary cabins and in Edge Hill Medical Centre.
Planned as part of Liverpool Primary Care Trust's Out of Hospital programme which aims to provide more health services near to where people live, the centre will offer other health services including ante-natal and baby clinics, paediatric audiology and vaccinations, minor surgery, dental services and a pharmacy among others.
LSHP has already developed community centres across Liverpool and Sefton, including a new health centre, library and sixth form facility at Childwall Fiveways and the recently opened South Liverpool NHS Treatment Centre in Garston.
The new centre will be opposite St Cyprian's church. The design will include inscriptions over the building's entrance that reflect the history of the city and highlight the building as a centre for health and well-being. There are also plans to backlight its message at night, to highlight the message 'Love Life'.
Graham Pink, chief executive of LSHP, said: "As a company, we are committed to providing buildings which contribute to the well-being of communities throughout our city.
"The new Neighbourhood Health Centre will be a new landmark for Kensington, as it's the first new building to be constructed following the demolition works in the area, and we believe it will be a huge asset to the local community."
Gideon Ben-Tovim, chairman of Liverpool PCT, said: "This will be the tenth new primary care facility that LSHP have provided for us as part of our Out of Hospital programme, which aims to create improved access to a wider range of services in local health facilities that are modern, friendly and accessible.
"Their commitment to partnership working has enabled us to build real improvements in our delivery of primary care to communities across the city, and this project is a strong example of that."
Construction is due to start in January, and the centre is expected to open in early 2013.
