Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC) has confirmed that construction firm, Speller Metcalfe, has been appointed to build the new community hospital in Cinderford, following an extensive competitive tendering process.
Initial work on the building’s design and position is under way, but the full specifications will only be finalised after the completion of the public consultation, due to run until mid-December, into services to be provided from the new facility. The multi-million pound hospital, to be built on the Lower High Street Playing Field in Steam Mills Road, will replace the existing community hospitals in Cinderford and Lydney, with building work planned to start next autumn.
Angela Potter, director of Strategy and Partnerships at GHC said: “We are delighted to be working with Speller Metcalfe on this exciting project, which will significantly improve the hospital environment for the Forest of Dean Population. Spellers demonstrated considerable experience of working on health and public sector projects, and offering innovative and sustainable solutions, so I am confident that together we can deliver a new hospital that will really improve the overall experience for patients and the staff who work there. We look forward to the feedback from the public consultation so that we can work up a final design and begin the planning and building process.”
Now in its 25th year, Speller Metcalfe is a family-led business that has grown its turnover to over £120 million. It is well-known in the Gloucestershire / Herefordshire area, having built Cinderford Health Centre and Station Medical Centre in Hereford, as well as working on the extension and refurbishment of Hadwen Medical Centre in Gloucester.
Joint MD, Andy Metcalfe (pictured), said: “We know that supporting the health sector is absolutely vital in the current climate, and as a local contractor we recognise how significant this hospital development will be for the wider community. With a strong history of successful project delivery for the NHS, we look forward to working with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust to develop the latest addition to the Forest of Dean’s health provision.”
As part of the hospital development, the NHS will also be working with Cinderford Town Council to provide a new skate park and upgraded multi-use games area elsewhere in the town.
