Architecture
and design
P+HS Architects has submitted a
planning application to replace the indispensible
existing health centre in Eaglescliffe, Stockton on
Tees with a £2.75 million innovative new purpose
built facility.
Eaglescliffe Medical Practice is a partnership of
General Practitioners that currently provides a wide
range of in-house services and maintains a
longstanding close relationship with the range of
community staff that have shared the current
premises on Sunningdale Drive since 1974. Initially
a small, local practice, it has grown over 35 years
to provide care for over 8000 patients from the
villages of Eaglescliffe, Elton, Long Newton and
Yarm, consequently out growing the original
building. With at least 100 new dwellings and two
new elderly care facilities scheduled for completion
in the next 18 months within Eaglescliffe alone, the
need for a new purpose built centre with room for
future expansion has become essential.
The plans for the new premises are supported in
principle by the North Tees Primary Care Trust and
included in the PCT Estate Strategy as a primary
care development priority. The centre is being
developed by Abstract Integrated Healthcare,
strengthening the relationship that already exists
with P+HS Architects which resulted from working on
a number of other developments together such as the
Eastgate Medical Centre and Alma Street Surgery,
Stockton on Tees. The centre will be constructed by
Tolent and leased to the Practice.
The new building will be a direct replacement for
the existing health centre with additional
accommodation and facilities, accommodating both the
Eaglescliffe Medical Practice and the existing PCT
community services. The purpose-built accommodation
and facilities will support the provision of modern
primary care services; together with flexible
additional space and amenities that can be used to
support the needs of the increasing local
population, whilst also supporting the development
of some new initiatives such as foundation
placements for newly qualified doctors.
The main elements within the new building include an
extensive GP surgery with accommodation for GP’s,
Nurse Practitioners, Healthcare Assistants and
related clinical staff and a PCT community clinic
with group spaces for activities such as parent and
child sessions, and meeting and training spaces
including a library and group room.
The site, an area of land approximating 0.24
hectares, lies at the junction of Sunningdale Drive
and Muirfield Road, overlooked by residential
properties, and adjacent to a shopping parade on
Sunningdale Drive. Due to site constrictions, it was
necessary to develop proposals for the construction
of a temporary health centre on land adjacent to the
existing facility for occupation during the
demolition and re-building of the existing surgery.
Several sites were considered and evaluated and
finally the preferred site was identified close to
the existing health centre on open recreational land
to the North-West of the current premises but
remaining within easy reach for all patients.
Angela Mackereth, Practice Manager at Eaglescliffe
Healthcentre commented that the new centre ‘will
help to improve the organisation, integration and
delivery of primary care services in the area and
also provide a much improved working environment for
the staff. With a steady increase in the number of
registered patients expected over the next few years
we will be able to provide them with the space and
flexibility to offer a wider range of local clinic
services’.
P+HS Architects, with 24 years experience in the
healthcare sector, recognised the importance to
create an easily approachable, non –threatening,
sustainable building and has undertaken a NEAT
assessment [NHS equivalent of BREEAM] of the
facility to ensure that the centre achieves more
than 70% [‘Excellent’ BREEAM equivalent] of the
maximum score in the energy, water, materials, land
use, pollution and internal environment sections.
The design has been developed to be mainly naturally
ventilated and lit with passive solar shading
incorporated to ensure that internal spaces do not
overheat. The waiting areas have been purposefully
located with a northern aspect and designed to have
double height ceilings to ensure adequate air
movement and to provide dramatic exciting spaces.
The consulting and treatment rooms have been
designed on a generic principle to facilitate future
flexibility and sustainability, ensuring that very
few spaces within the building are limited in their
function.
Joe Biggs, Director at P+HS Architects said; ‘We
believe that our healthcare buildings are attractive
and welcoming, with bright colours, plentiful
natural light, good wayfinding and comfortable
patient facilities. P+HS’s recent design for the
Mowbray House surgery in Northallerton is the
featured GP practice on NHS Estate’s CD “The
healthcare environment” and the features developed
there will also be included in the new Eaglescliffe
Centre, for example, the waiting areas will be light
and bright, seating will be designed for comfort,
and energy efficiency is paramount’.
Subject to planning approval, it is expected that
the development will be complete and ready for
occupation by the Practice in Spring 2009.
Email:
Chloe@frenchcolwell.co.uk
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Editor's Note: P+HS Architects provide:-
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P+HS - Plan to redevelop healthcare centre
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd News Categories : Architecture and design |