Shrewsbury GP practice set for move to new town centre home
Shrewsbury’s Riverside Medical Practice is set to move to a new home in the town’s Tannery development, after Shropshire Council gave the scheme the go-ahead.
Three blocks are set to be completed on the Tannery site on Barker Street.
Work is nearing completion on the first block which will provide student accommodation for University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS) in the new academic year.
Subject to agreement of terms between Shropshire Council and the Riverside Medical Practice, the practice will occupy the majority of the second block, which is still to be constructed, and there will be a new pharmacy on the site.
The new practice is set to open in 2019.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for corporate and commercial support, said: “This is brilliant news for Shrewsbury and for Shropshire, for the council and for the Riverside Medical Practice and its patients.
"It will mean that the medical practice can remain in a town centre location, and also allows Shropshire Council to influence the provision of health services in the local area, by investing in the development of improved health facilities.
Partnership
“We want to help ensure the health of our residents by ensuring that there are good quality, sustainable, health services in the county. Our investment in the new medical centre will help us to do this, and will provide the opportunity for a local practice to have modern, fit-for-purpose facilities with space for expansion to support growth in patient numbers.”
Dr Julian Povey, chair of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and a local GP, said: “This is a great example of partnership working between the CCG, Shropshire Council and the practice, all working together to successfully achieve a positive outcome that will result in a purpose-built modern medical centre.
“I am particularly pleased we have secured a site in the town centre which will allow the practice to grow and extend its current services.”
Tracy Willocks, business manager for Riverside Medical Practice, said: “We were extremely disappointed when Shropshire Council withdrew the sale of the previously identified site in Raven Meadows earlier this year. However we are pleased to hear the good news with regards to these new proposals for the alternative development in the town centre. Our patients and staff have waited for many years for this project to come to fruition.”
