WORK has started on a £20 million community hub in Chryston, which has been tipped to deliver a modern learning environment and ‘state-of-the-art’ health and wellbeing facilities.
A turf-cutting ceremony has taken place to mark the commencement of construction.
North Lanarkshire Council is working in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire on the project. The hub is being delivered by hub South West, with construction partner Robertson Construction and will replace the existing Chryston Primary School as well as provide a new community health clinic.
Plans for the hub include outdoor and indoor sports facilities; a landscaped playground for the school; healthcare gardens for clinic patients and staff; and community greenspaces and paths. The new learning facility will have capacity for up to 509 pupils.
One of the features developed by Ryder is the landscape design, described as creating ‘seamless’ transitions between indoor and outdoor environments with all class bases benefiting from direct access to the playground.
Outdoor play equipment includes bug ‘hotels’, allotment beds, and a fire pit surrounded by log seating.
Plans for the clinic include seven treatment/clinical rooms and a group room to support the delivery of local health services.
The new community health clinic will provide a larger and more modern facility than the existing Muirhead Clinic, which only allows a small range of community health services to be provided locally due to its size and lack of car parking. It will continue to operate its existing services while the new clinic is built.
Michael Ross, chief executive, hub South West, said, “It is fantastic to celebrate the start of this exciting project and continue our close working relationship with North Lanarkshire Council in delivering its programme of works. Our unique partnering approach and focus on the benefits to both the local community and local economy, coupled with our focus on quality and continuous improvement, will ensure this facility is enjoyed for generations to come.”
Andy McLinden from Robertson Construction Central West, added, “Our experience in the education and healthcare sectors will allow us to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that not only supports the council’s vision but that the whole community can be proud of. Chryston Community Hub is the first project we will deliver on behalf of hub South West since securing Tier 1 status last year and we look forward to engaging with the people of Chryston as the build progresses.”
The facility is expected to be operational by August 2023.
