A new state-of-the-art Wellness Centre is coming to Swansea’s High Street thanks to a partnership between Swansea Bay University Health Board and Coastal Housing Group.
The project will be delivered under Welsh Government’s Primary Care Plan, which aims to provide a series of new integrated health and care centres across Wales. The new centres are intended to improve access to a range of health and social care services closer to people’s homes.
Under draft plans, the new wellness centre will be based to the rear of the Volcano Theatre building and house GP, community health and specialist services in a modern, purpose built environment.
Coastal and the health board will now work closely with Faithful & Gould as the lead consultant on the project, supported by IBI architects and others, to develop the concept design ahead of submitting a formal planning application later this year.
“Coastal has a long-standing commitment to the regeneration of Swansea High Street”, says Chief Executive Debbie Green. “We’ve invested nearly £30 million in the area and relocated our office there in 2012 too so it’s somewhere we call home.
“We’re delighted to be working with the health board to bring this flagship healthcare development right into the heart of Swansea city centre. It demonstrates a more holistic approach to wellbeing and we’re confident will have huge benefits for the local community.”
Siân Harrop-Griffiths, Director of Strategy for Swansea Bay University Health Board said: “The Swansea Wellness Centre has been designed not only to provide a fantastic environment for users and staff, but to support well-being and ill-health prevention in the widest sense. It will pull together a range of health and well-being services under one roof, making it easier for people to access the care and support they need in a joined-up way.
“The new centre will replace the existing Central Clinic on Orchard Street and house the two branches of a city centre GP practice, offering modern and well-designed facilities for people to enjoy.
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Coastal Housing to offer our community this exciting development.”
This innovative approach is underpinned by Welsh Government policies and will be a first in a collaborative-building project of this kind for Wales since it involves working across sectors, promoting transformative change between NHS and the third sector partners. The health board will be working collaboratively with Coastal under a Design and Build procurement route.