South Wales valleys community welcomes £1.25m opco-built medical centre

A new £1.25m medical centre is just what the doctor ordered for the people of a Gwent valleys community.

The recently completed health hub will cater for the needs of south Wales patients in Gelligaer, near Blackwood, in Caerphilly.

The two storey building, at Penallta Road, was built by opco on behalf of specialist health care property developers Leicestershire-based LSP Developments.

opco has added to its solid and growing reputation in the medical field by completing the project on behalf of the Aneurin Bevan Health Board backed by the Welsh Government.

The 45 week project, completed to budget and on schedule, involved the demolition of an existing primary school and the construction of the new, 936 M2 (10,075 sq ft) surgery and medical centre.

The surgery is the latest in a growing list of medical centres opco have completed.

opco regional director Nigel Coulter said: “We’re proud to have worked with LSP Developments to construct this modern medical centre for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, the Welsh Government and the wider community of Gelligaer.

“opco, through successful delivery of this project, is rapidly becoming a recognised specialist in the design and construction of centres of this sort and gaining ever wider respect for its expertise in the niche sector.

“LSP Developments approached us to handle the project for them in Gelligaer as they were impressed by our record of successful delivery in the medical sector, in particular with Matrix Realty and the £4m West Quay Medical Centre at Barry and the £3m Porth Medical Centre we built.”

James Pritchard, of LSP Developments, said: “’An excellent working relationship was maintained throughout the development period. opco have helped deliver a building of which  both LSP Developments and the stakeholders can be very proud.”

Architects for the Gelligaer scheme were Staffordshire based West Hart Partnership. The structural engineers were east Midlands based BWB Consulting. The mechanical and electrical engineering was designed by Waterman Building Services.

opco continues to demonstrate its versatility in the construction industry with its recent completions.  Among these include a £3m day hospice care centre in Newport, south Wales for the St David’s Foundation, a £4.7m extra care scheme in Frome, as well as a £ 4.2m residential development also in Newport, south Wales.

The firm is soon to complete a £2m 1,750 seat spectator stand for Torquay United AFC at its Plainmoor ground and a £3.1m, 90 bedroom, hotel in Balham, South London  for Travelodge.

opco employs 77 staff from its offices in Cardiff and Exeter and operates through Wales the south west and southern England.