Planning permission granted for new health centre

A new state-of-the-art health and care centre at Queens Quay, the £250million regeneration project on the site of the former John Brown’s shipyard in Clydebank, has been granted planning permission by West Dunbartonshire Council.

Operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), the new Clydebank Health and Care Centre will be located in the health quarter of Queens Quay and provide health and care services for approximately 50,000 residents of Clydebank. The building, which will replace the existing health centre on Kilbowie Road, will support integrated health and care services and will allow staff currently operating from dispersed locations to work together in a new high specification facility.

Along with GP practices, residents will also access podiatry and physiotherapy along with consulting and treatment rooms. The new centre will improve primary care services by giving the people of Clydebank access to the most up-to-date, high quality healthcare facilities. The centre will also be the central base for community health teams.

Extending to circa 62,400 sq ft over three levels, the building was designed by architect Anderson, Bell and Christie with hub West Scotland acting as development partner. It is fully compliant with the Equality Act and Disability Discrimination Act and has undergone extensive consultation with the local access panel.

It represents an investment of approximately £19m by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Council.

The Queens Quay site is owned by Clydeside Regeneration Limited (CRL) with West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) providing infrastructure funding. Dawn Developments Ltd is responsible for development management on behalf of CRL.

Duncan Graham, of Clydeside Regeneration Limited, said: “It’s great news that another element of the masterplan is now coming to fruition. This year will also see further developments come forward and completion of all infrastructure works is due by spring 2019. Queens Quay is now one of the biggest regeneration projects in Scotland.”

Councillor Marie McNair, chair of the West Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership, commented: “This is a really exciting time for Clydebank and this project has been a long time coming. We have fought hard to get improved health services for our town.

“This new Health and Care Centre will not just replace the existing facility, it will give residents access to state-of-the-art health facilities in a building that is fit for purpose.

“We are committed to enhancing our community health services and the Clydebank Health and Care Centre will be the perfect place in which this vision can become a reality. This new facility will not only improve the health of our population, but improve the lives of our population and I am sure it will serve the local community well for many years to come.

“The Health and Care Centre will also kick start the development of our waterfront, and our architects have come up with an excellent design that not only honours our past but reflects a modern and confident Clydebank.”

Construction of the health centre is likely to commence following completion of the contractor tender process. It is expected to be open in 2020.

Civil engineering firm I&H brown has just commenced works to install the main spine road in the Queens Quay site which will serve the whole development area. These works are being done simultaneously with those already being undertaken by engineering company George Leslie Ltd, which has been contracted to complete all marine works associated with the basin and river frontage.