Health leaders and construction officials celebrate new Devizes Health Centre build reaching highest point

A pivotal milestone in the construction of the new Devizes Health Centre has been celebrated at an on-site ceremony attended by those closely involved with the project.

Local healthcare leaders and construction officials met at the Marshall Road building site on Monday 11 October to mark the build reaching its highest point.

Attendees at the topping out ceremony also toured the site to view the progress made since building work started back in May.

The new Devizes Health Centre will be one of the region’s first integrated care centres, and will offer a home to a number of different health and care providers, including four GP practices, all of whom will provide a variety of services under one roof.

Scheduled to open next summer, the healthcare facility will provide primary care services, such as those traditionally found in GP practices, along with hospital outpatient services, such as physiotherapy clinics and mental health support.

Tracey Cox, Chief Executive, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, said: “The building site at Marshall Road has been a hive of activity over the summer, and it is truly exciting to see this new health centre finally taking shape.

“I know people in Devizes, as well as the surrounding areas, have waited patiently over many years for this new health centre, and I’m really pleased that the project is now moving forward at pace.

“This will not only be the flagship location for health and care services in Devizes, but also a setting that brings together providers so that patients can be looked after in the most joined-up way possible.”

When up and running, Devizes Health Centre will lead the way in sustainable design, and be one of only a few net-zero health facilities in England.

Heat pumps and solar panels will be among the green technology used at the site, and will enable the building to generate its own heating and electricity respectively.  

James Wakeham, Principal Construction Manager, NHS Property Services, said: “We are delighted to see this new and challenging project for sustainable health services in Devizes progressing well.

“We are looking forward to beginning the internal works to really bring this project to life, and delivering the infrastructure that local clinicians need to continue delivering excellent patient care.”

The building of the new Devizes Health Centre is being overseen by NHS Property Services, which has worked with the ICB over the last few years in getting the £10.9 million project off the ground.

For further details about the build, and to view a live stream of the construction work, visit www.bswicb.nhs.uk and search for Devizes Health Centre.

More information about NHS Property Services can be found online at www.property.nhs.uk.