One step closer to new health and community centre in Heywood

Residents in Heywood are one step closer to getting their new state-of-the-art health and community centre after all the legal documents were signed off today.

The £7.3million project, funded by Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (HMRPCT), New Heart for Heywood (NHFH) and Rochdale Council is being developed right in the centre of Heywood, improving access to services and making it convenient for all visitors to the town.

The new centre will provide modern, spacious and comfortable accommodation with better facilities for the local community, patients and staff.

John Pierce, Chairman of HMRPCT, is pleased with the progress. “It’s a great achievement to get to this stage,” he said. “And it will be really exciting to the watch the development over the coming months as building work begins.

“Not only will the centre provide a single point of access for all key services required by the local Heywood community, it will also provide the borough with health services that are currently only available in hospitals, making them more easily accessible and bringing them closer to people’s homes.”

Vicki Devonport, Chief Executive of NHFH said: “This is a legacy project for New Heart for Heywood NDC and a key part of the vision for the regeneration of the Heywood Township with the objective of improving the facilities and how services are delivered for Heywood residents. The project will raise aspirations and already has strong community involvement to ensure that services provided in Heywood match their needs. We have all gained greatly from the opportunities that have arisen from partnership working in the design of the facility and we look forward to continuing to working together to provide local services which are responsive to local needs.”

Councillor Alan Taylor, leader of Rochdale Council, said: “It’s great news for Heywood that this new facility is another step nearer becoming a reality. It will bring together council and health services in one place – including incorporating the existing library and functions of the civic centre – so it’s a great example of effective partnership working between ourselves and the PCT. The extended opening hours will also make it easier for people to access some of the services that we offer in Heywood. It’s part of my dream for Heywood to have a ‘Town Hall’ of its own!”

Councillor Colin Lambert, Heywood Township Councillor and Leader of the Labour Group, added: “My thanks to all the partners for their efforts in working together to reach this ultimate achievement. The centre is a fantastic success story and will bring together health and council services for everyone in Heywood. I look forward to not only seeing improved services in Heywood through the facilities made available in the Heywood centre, but also to further developments to localise services in the future.”

Comprising a long four storey block parallel to Pine Street with a glazed stair tower facing the Cenotaph Gardens, the development, built in partnership with construction company, Eric Wright Group and architects, Nightingale Associates, forms part of a major redevelopment of the town centre.

Mike Collier, Director of Eric Wright said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the PCT, the Council and Heart of Heywood in helping them to achieve their joint vision.”

Work on site will commence by the end of June with anticipated completion by late 2009.