This event took place on Thursday 14th January. You can watch a recording of the event here.
The NHS is supporting the build of a new £8 million Health and Wellbeing Centre on the Brunswick Street site in the heart of Teignmouth. This will house the town’s largest GP practices alongside other health and care services. By working in partnership and bringing together our resources and facilities, we will be able to provide care that is resilient and sustainable, in buildings that are fit for purpose - both now and in the foreseeable future. The new facility will be delivered by the Strategic Estates Partnership between the Trust, Morgan Sindall Investments and Arcadis.
On this site you can find out more about our plans for the design of the new centre.
Our public consultation exercise has now closed. We are no longer accepting any comments or questionnaires. Thank you to everyone who has participated so far. We will be submitting a planning application to Teignbridge DC in the coming weeks.
We believe the best way to help people stay well and support them when they need expert health and care is to bring services together and integrate them around the needs of individuals.
We can’t do this in the current fragmented and outdated premises.
Our shared plans, as approved by NHS England, include:
A History of firsts: Health Services in Teignmouth
Teignmouth Hospital was opened in 1954 and was the first general hospital in the country to be built after the formation of the NHS. As would be expected of a building designed nearly 70 years ago, and despite some improvement, it is approaching the end of its economic life - particularly the electrics, ventilation systems, pipework, heating systems. It also has drainage problems and its access does not comply with current legislation (Disability Discrimination Act).
The hospital is not designed for the flexible and integrated health and care services required today.
All this, together with access issues, being at the top of a steep hill with poor transport links, has meant a search for a more suitable site for a new building.
The successful introduction of the innovative integrated care model in the Coastal area in 2015/2016 was a national first. This involved focussing on what is important to people and we made significant investment in community services, including in the professionals in health and wellbeing teams, to deliver care closer to home.
The success of this integrated care model with care delivered at home and in the local community is evidenced in a reduction in the need for hospital admissions, particularly for older people.
Public involvement in our plans
Brunswick Street is a designated development area as part of the ‘regeneration’ of Teignmouth town centre, and the health and wellbeing centre will sit alongside a new hotel development which has recently received planning permission for the other part of the Brunswick Street site. Brunswick Street is in the Teignmouth Conservation area consequently the design of the building is subject to heritage requirements in keeping with the rest of the area.
The existing site has very recently been the subject of extensive demolition works and is therefore largely cleared of buildings. However, the former uses of buildings include the former Swanson Workshop buildings and Beenie Building (former livery stable) towards the northern and central end together with a small area of public realm/sitting space at the corner of Brunswick Street and George Street. At the southern end is a public convenience and at the north-western corner fronting Northumberland Place are two poorly kept commercial units, located within the Conservation Area.
The site is located at the western end of the town centre and is recognised as a thoroughfare from the traditional resort town area and the west beach, being only a short distance from the site. The area at Brunswick Street/Northumberland Place is therefore well placed to improve connectivity in the town and enhance the streetscape for residents and visitors.
There are a number of challenges that the team, led by KTA architects, have had to deal with in coming up with the design. An independent panel of experts have reviewed the design, so we can be absolutely sure that it meets with the Council’s challenging heritage requirements for the site and is the best it can be within the constraints of the the site.
Some of the challenges influencing the design are:
Site
The design includes a small number of car parking spaces for immediate/emergency access and bicycle parking facilities. The main public parking is provided in the George Street car park.
Exterior
Elevations: The design of the new Health and Wellbeing Centre to the Northumberland Place and George Street elevations has been carefully scrutinised by the design team and the Teignbridge Conservation Officer to ensure the scale, design and use of materials supports the sensitive historic landscape. Additionally, the Brunswick Street elevation will provide an active frontage to this busy pedestrian thoroughfare.
Interior
The design is based on each floor being self-contained with reception seating and easy access to treatment/clinic rooms. The flexible space and multiple entrances and exits ensures that the building is adaptable and can meet the needs of social distancing.
The layout has been formulated on the advice of clinical experts (audiologists, physiotherapists, district nurses as well as GPs, Community Clinicians, Health Visitors, social care teams). The design standards (number and size of various rooms) conforms to the industry-standard best-practice guidance, the Health Technical Memoranda. The layout and floor-to-ceiling heights in particular, follow national best practice for the sizing and zoning of facilities to ensure efficient, flexible and user-friendly spaces.
Sustainability
In building terms the building is classed as ‘BREEAM Very good’ which means it meets the national requirements for sustainability, this includes light, acoustics and energy.
First consulted on the new model of care.
Engaged the public on the siting options for the centre. Brunswick street was the preferred site.
Consulted with the public on the further integration of services
Pre planning application engagement with Teignbridge District Council (TDC) Planning officers, Conservation officers and Devon County Council Highways.
TDC Design Review Panel
This event took place on Thursday 14th January. You can watch a recording of the event here.