Plans to redevelop Peel Precinct in South Kilburn could deliver a new health centre for the area.
Brent Councils Executive endorsed a delivery strategy which could enable the council to build a high quality health centre as part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme offering improved health services for over 10,000 patients of three local GP practices.
Plans for the redevelopment of Peel Precinct will include the development of a new Health Centre alongside 36 affordable homes and homes for market sale.
The South Kilburn Health Centre will provide a new home for Blessing Medical Centre, Kilburn Park Medical Centre and Peel Precinct Surgery, providing the three practices with a new building with improved facilities, which will include other uses such as a pharmacy, café and, possibly, an enterprise space – South Kilburn Studios has operated in a temporary building on the site for some time and has been a successful space for small and start-up businesses, helping them create jobs in the area.
The council say this initiative is crucial for improving the health of local people, in an area with higher deprivation and higher rate of serious health conditions than other parts of Brent.
The project also aims to transform the wider area by returning to the traditional street pattern, improving the quality of the public realm and creating attractive new features including a new public square.
Brent’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects, Cllr George Crane said: “These are exciting proposals that will transform the precinct and enable us to deliver better homes and improved health for local people but we will all need to work together we can make it happen.
“I am aware that previous plans have not materialised but I am confident that the current plans take us one step closer to a new health centre in South Kilburn. This is a challenging project and the council will need the support of local residents, GPs and the health authority.”
Dr Joffe a GP from Kilburn Park Medical Centre, one of the practices moving into the health centre said: “We are delighted that the proposal for this has now been approved. The outstanding new South Kilburn Health Centre will become home to the three local GP practices, as well as drawing together allied community health services and specialist outreach clinics under one roof. It will provide civic space for the community based on health and wellbeing.
“The decision is especially timely as not only does it come in the midst of the thriving South Kilburn Regeneration project, which we see springing up all around us, but it comes at a time when the Kilburn Locality clinical group is actively designing schemes for bringing health out of the hospital into the community to create safer, more cohesive and efficient health services.
“South Kilburn Health Centre will provide that place where all the teams can work together for the health of all residents and patients.”
The Peel project is an important part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme which is currently transforming the area.
The next stage is to appoint a design team who will work with resident, businesses, GPs and health users, to help shape the proposals and prepare the application for planning permission.
If approved, the Peel redevelopment will be delivered in phases, aiming to start in 2015 with completion by 2017/18.
