Complex land deal clears the way for £4m health centre development
The future provision of primary healthcare in part of Warwickshire has been secured following the completion of a ‘complex’ land acquisition deal.
The closure of the deal has seen the start of work on the new £4m, 1,400 sqm Wellesbourne Medical Centre. The new centre will replace the village’s existing Hastings House surgery, and provide a modern primary care facility that will be used by GPs, nurses and other local community healthcare providers.
With completion scheduled for early 2019, the new building will be three times the size of the current surgery, with 24 clinical rooms and improved access to an increased range of services.
Head of Lodders’ real estate, Paul Mourton led the firm’s team working with the surgery’s healthcare practitioners, headed by its senior GP partner, Dr Martin Read-Jones.
Working closely with the trustees of the Walton Estate, NHS England, the local South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and a team from Persimmon Homes that has begun work on a 350-homes development in the village, the land acquisition paves the way for the much-need medical centre.
Mr Mourton said: “Wellesbourne needs a larger, modern medical centre, not least to accommodate the village’s growing population that has been significantly boosted by the 350-home development underway by Persimmon Homes.
“This was a very involved and complicated transaction but by working closely with all parties, including the team at Hastings House surgery, we have successfully navigated the acquisition of the land for the new medical centre, including the compliance planning obligations that were critical for the transaction to complete.”
Dr Read-Jones adds: “I believe the new Centre is an important step for future-proofing healthcare provision in the area. The project will secure the provision of primary healthcare services in Wellesbourne for the next generation and beyond, to support an expanding village community and its growing population. With a facility three times the size of the current practice, we can now look to expand our team of doctors and healthcare professionals within the next two years.
“We are very happy that work has now begun on the new Medical Centre, and equally so with the professional, supportive, and responsive advice we’ve had from Lodders.”
Working alongside Mr Mourton was commercial property specialist and senior associat, Constantine Berry.
He said: “Maintaining communication with all parties throughout the process was critical. Plans for the new centre were initially made in late 2015; to reach completion of the transaction we assisted in the sale of the centre’s current site, lease-back of the site from the new owners to ensure continuity of the provision of healthcare services whilst the new centre is built, acquisition of the land for the new medical centre, and securing funding.”
Pictured: Paul Mourton (left) and Constantine Berry (right) with senior GP partner, Dr Martin Read-Jones (centre).
