Press Releases

June 20 2006

New medical centre for east Manchester

Construction work has started on a £6.5 million state-of-the-art medical centre in New Islington, Manchester's Millennium Community in east Manchester. The 24,500 sq ft facility, across two floors, will be one of the largest health clinics in Manchester. It is designed to serve the existing population of Ancoats, and the city centre dwellers on the east side of the city as well as the new and existing communities of New Islington, Miles Platting and Holt Town Waterfront where in excess of 7, 000 new homes are planned.

The clinic, to be located on Old Mill Street, near the site of the former hospital, overlooking the new water park currently being built in New Islington, is designed by leading Manchester architects, Stephenson Bell. The new facility will replace the current Ancoats clinic and will house together two of the area's key GP practices. Other services will include minor injuries, family planning, podiatry, mental health services and a pharmacy.

"The new facility will mean our health care staff can provide the most modern and up to date services for people and really help people to live healthier lives. For too long, residents in this part of Manchester have experienced some of the worst health and we want to change this" said David King, Chief Executive of North Manchester PCT.

Richard Groome, Chief Executive of MaST LIFT Co., added: "This world class health centre has been made possible by true partnership working. Regeneration, strategic thinking and excellence in construction have all come together to produce a facility that Manchester will be proud of."

Tom Russell, chief executive of New East Manchester Ltd said: "This will truly be a clinic for the millennium. The population of east Manchester is growing and developing at a rapid pace. We are building 12,500 new homes in the wider east Manchester area so it is essential we continue to meet the health care needs of this diverse and changing population. This modern medical centre will play a key part in the physical and social regeneration of east Manchester."

The centre is due to completed by October 2007.

This health centre is part of the ongoing LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) programme to reform primary care health services in Manchester, Salford and Trafford. The capital funding is provided by ExcellCare, a joint venture between Equion, a division of John Laing plc and Bank of Scotland and the PCT will pay the revenue funding. The centres will be managed and staffed by North Manchester Primary Care NHS Trust. The clinic will be built by Laing O'Rourke and is due to open late next year.

The health centre is in New Islington, Manchester's Millennium Community, which in turn is one of English Partnerships' seven Millennium Communities but the centre will serve a much wider population. New Islington is a partnership between national regeneration agency English Partnerships, Urban Splash and New East Manchester Ltd together with appointed social landlord, Manchester Methodist Housing Group. The 29 acre site, just east of Manchester city centre is being radically transformed to a strategic and ambitious vision created by Will Alsop. As well as the health centre, a new canal and water park, over 1730 new homes, office space, a school, shops, bars and restaurants are planned to be created, using the world's best architecture.