Posted on Tuesday 14th January 2020
An artist's impression of the proposed health centre on the site of Greenwood House.
Demolition of a former care home is due to begin later this month.
Staffordshire County Council has been given permission to flatten what was Greenwood House residential care home in Lichfield Road, Burntwood.
The range of single and two-storey buildings have been empty since 2008 and work is expected to last about nine weeks, without affecting local traffic.
Once cleared, the site remains earmarked to become a health centre and the new home of the Darwin Medical Practice.
The county council, which owns the land, and the Clinical Commissioning Group, which funds GP practices, have applied for funding from NHS England’s Estates and Technology Transformation Fund for the development.
Alan White, Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:
We’re working on the funding bid with the CCG and the demolition is a welcome step along the way to providing to a brand new, first class medical centre for the people of Burntwood.”
As well as providing a base for a GP practice, it’s also hoped that the new centre will include a room for taking blood samples and a health education space, as well as offices. There is also potential for an adjoining pharmacy.
The application, approved by Lichfield District Council, also contains plans for 61 car parking spaces, uses the existing road entrance and its surroundings will be landscaped.
Alan White added:
Part of the strategy for reducing demand on our hospitals from ageing communities is to provide more facilities and services in the community and I’m pleased that the county council is able to use surplus land in this way for everyone’s benefit.”
There are no roadworks tied in with the demolition and afterwards the site will be made safe until work is ready to begin.