Interclass to deliver £5M Health Centre for Wednesbury

​Contractor Interclass has been appointed by Sandwell Council to deliver a new state-of-the-art health centre in Wednesbury.  The £5-million project was procured through the Constructing West Midlands framework with works expected to be completed during the first half of 2023.

Located in King Street, Wednesbury, the flagship centre will enable better patient access and replace services which are currently provided at the Mesty Croft Clinic in Alma Street and a temporary building located in Albert Street used by Spires Health Centre.

The new centre will be significantly larger than existing healthcare facilities and will include a suite of consulting, treatment, and meeting rooms as well as 32 on-site car parking spaces and an ambulance drop-off area.  The scheme also includes the construction of five new council homes.

Sandwell Council and Black Country & West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group have worked together to resolve complex issues – such as land improvement and enabling works – to develop the scheme. Land improvement work was grant funded by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership with Homes England part-funding the project’s housebuilding costs.

The 25-year lease of the health centre will be taken on by the GP practice, enabling them to relocate from their current temporary site at Victoria Street.

Des O’Neill, managing director of Interclass said: “We are delighted to be involved in this important scheme which will result in a fantastic and modern facility for the patients and staff of Wednesbury. Interclass has an extensive record of delivering healthcare facilities and we are especially pleased to further grow our relationship with Sandwell Council on this project.”

Andrew Lawley, director of estates for Black Country & West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Black Country & West Birmingham CCG have worked in partnership with Sandwell Council to deliver a new, modern primary care facility for the wellbeing of the people of Wednesbury. The new building will provide improved accessibility and health care services for the community, patients, staff, visitors and Wednesbury.”

Councillor Iqbal Padda, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and growth, said: “The redevelopment of the King Street site demonstrates how the council, working with public sector partners, can deliver local investment that resolves long-standing site issues, and work towards providing much-needed high-quality housing and a brand new health centre. These will enable our residents to feel part of a connected community and the wider, revitalised, healthier Sandwell”

Councillor Zahoor Ahmed, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Sandwell Council’s active housing building programme is delivering new, quality, affordable homes – like these being developed in King Street – that meet our residents’ housing needs, so they feel warm, safe, secure and protected in their neighbourhoods. They will be close to key transport links, employment opportunities and vital health services.”

Interclass has recently completed the new pavilion at West Smethwick Park for Sandwell Council and is currently constructing a new three classroom facility at The Meadows School in Oldbury, also procured using the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) Framework.

With a commitment to driving best practice procurement, the CWM framework has a 16-year track record in the delivery of publicly funded projects and is a member of the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF).  It is also committed to the delivery of net zero and sets stringent targets for the delivery of environmental sustainability and carbon reduction for all projects procured through the framework.