Health centre plan for Oakland surgery site (From Middlewich Guardian)

Health centre plan for Oakland surgery site

12:26pm Thursday 9th April 2009 in News

AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled for an all-in-one health centre and sports pitch in Middlewich.

Oakapple Primary Care Developments has submitted a planning application for a 3,860 square metre facility, which is set to transform the existing Oaklands Surgery, off St Ann's Walk.

If the scheme is given the green light, it will also be the new home for Acorns Surgery and create a Primary Care Trust clinic, children’s centre, dental practice and pharmacy.

The proposed modern all-weather sports pitch will include perimeter fencing and floodlighting for community use.

Darren Oxley, primary care development manager at Oakapple, said: “Oakapple is extremely excited about the proposed development and delighted to have been given the opportunity to be involved in a scheme which will provide a new state of the art health facility for the residents of Middlewich.

“The much needed replacement of the all-weather sports facility will not only benefit the pupils at Middlewich High School, but the wider public through its use via the leisure centre.”

The health centre is to be built on the site of the existing Oaklands Surgery and will form part of a proposed land swap deal involving land on the adjoining Middlewich High School site and Dyer’s Field, behind the White Horse on Lewin Street.

The development will include environmentally sustainable features such as ground source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and solar powered water heating.

Oakapple, a Leeds-based company, is also running a competition for pupils of Middlewich High School, which is backing the scheme, to design artwork for a glazed wall at the rear of the building.

Clr Keith Bagnall said that the proposal is likely to be discussed by Middlewich Town Council’s planning committee on April 28.

He added: “I’ve heard so many good things about this and it’s a very significant development.

“The principal is great, however the devil is in the detail.”

If planning permission is granted by the newly formed Cheshire East Council, work is scheduled to start later this year and will take around 12 months to complete.

The scheme is one of three major developments by Oakapple in the area. Alsager Medical Centre was recently opened by Olympic Medallist, Yvonne McGregor while building work will begin on a new medical centre in Scholar Green shortly.