News from our partners: Pauls Moss – Whitchurch housing and healthcare project enters planning stage
News from our partners The Wrekin Housing Trust
An exciting building project – Pauls Moss – that could bring much needed housing and healthcare facilities to Whitchurch, has been put forward to planners for approval.
The development at Pauls Moss aims to revitalise medical provision in the town, bringing the existing GP practices together under one roof, whilst also addressing the needs of a growing, ageing population.
As part of wider regeneration plans, the scheme will offer combined housing and care services for the over 55 age group, as well as providing a modern, purpose-built medical centre and community space.
The Wrekin Housing Trust will lead on the project, in partnership with Shropshire Council, and NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The proposed development of the medical centre is being funded by both Shropshire Council and NHS England capital funding.
Managing Director of The Wrekin Housing Trust, Wayne Gethings, said:
“Together with Shropshire Council, NHS Shropshire CCG and local GP practices, we’ve designed a forward-thinking solution that will provide attractive, modern facilities that will not only fulfil the needs of today, but also be there for future generations.
“Combining specialist retirement housing with health and social care facilities is a model that is already proving invaluable elsewhere in the county.”
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s deputy Leader, and Cabinet member for corporate and commercial support, said:
“The need for a new medical centre in Whitchurch is well known, and this project will make sure that this need is met, and that Whitchurch has modern, accessible, and fit for purpose facilities that will help deliver the best services for patients, but also attract a high-quality workforce to the town.”
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, health and social housing, added:-
“Our main focus is to work with our partners to ensure the best possible provision of healthcare for the Whitchurch community. The development of the medical centre will help meet the needs of the local community and reflect the future design and delivery of health and social care services.”
Dr Julian Povey, Chair of NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, and GP, said:
“This is a really exciting project that brings health and social care together to support patients and local people. It will become a real community asset by uniting local services on to a single, dedicated site with purpose-built facilities.”
The planning consultation is open for comments from all until Wednesday 30 January 2019 – ref no 18/05901/FUL on Shropshire planning portal – please click here. Project leaders expect the plans to be considered by Shropshire Council’s North planning committee in early spring.
If approved, the project is expected to take three years to complete and will be funded by The Wrekin Housing Trust, Shropshire Council, Homes England, NHS England, NHS Shropshire CCG, and the One Public Estate programme.
Further information
- Whitchurch has an ageing population and has few specialist facilities to support people with their health, care and well-being. There is also an identified need for specialist housing for older people.
- Services and activities that could be potentially organised and delivered from the medical centre and community hub may include:
- a place to socialise, meet others and do things that will help with staying mentally and physically active
- a place to promote health, wellbeing and independence
- a multi-use space where people and groups can meet
- a location for high-tech assistive technologies that connect the community to care services. The ability to incorporate assistive technologies into the public areas will mean that a much greater range of people will be able to benefit from them.
- healthy lifestyle support using digital technology for linked to exercise through guided programmes and exercise on prescription
- social prescribing
- care co-ordination
- health promotion, sign posting and navigation
- on-site café to support healthy diets and offer a range of healthy meals.
- The scheme is subject to a planning application being approved.
- As the scheme will go out to tender, the cost of the scheme and the value of the Shropshire Council investment is commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be disclosed.
