Posted on 6 Feb 2008

A state of the art health centre with a doctor’s and dentist’s surgery is set to be built at Ardrossan Harbour.

Incorporating a “C” listed, derelict police station, the £5 million development will replace the existing South Beach Surgery which has seen better days.

Developed by North Ayrshire Ventures Ltd (NAV Ltd) - the joint venture company set up by North Ayrshire Council and The EDI Group - the health centre aims to continue the regeneration of Ardrossan.

Proposals for the new health centre have this week been submitted to North Ayrshire Council for planning permission. The plans will be considered by the Council’s planning committee in the near future.

The health centre represents the third development by North Ayrshire Ventures, who have already delivered two successful office buildings in Saltcoats town centre and at 1 Pennyburn Road, Kilwinning. Together these two speculative office developments have brought more than 200 new jobs to the area.

Briefed to design a “healthy centre”, a place that’s bright and airy rather than institutional award winning architects Reiach and Hall, have drawn up plans for a two-storey contemporary building that has light internal spaces and a landscaped garden.

The centre, located on a prominent corner site opposite the new Asda store, will offer a GP practice with nine consulting rooms, together with a Dental clinic of two surgeries.

The developers are aiming for an “excellent” BREEAM rating, the world's most widely used environmental standard for buildings: if they are successful it will be the first health centre in Scotland to achieve this high standard.

Neil Johnson, Director of North Ayrshire Ventures Ltd, said:
“It’s a very significant development that will make a big difference to people in Ardrossan. It will offer a calm, pleasant environment for patients and visitors. We’ve designed a building that we hope will boost people’s spirits when they visit.

“And in energy efficiency terms, we’re aiming for a lean, mean and green building that will set new standards for health centres in Scotland.”

Subject to planning permission being secured, work will start on site later this year. The building is expected to be completed by summer 2009.

Read next: Ardrossan “healthy” centre gets green light