Member Article

Koru secure £2.3m building contract

Koru Property Services have a won a £2.3 million contract to build a health centre in Gateshead, creating 30 jobs in the process.

The firm will completely reconfigure the Gateshead NHS Health Centre, which currently houses Bridges, Millennium and Central Medical Groups. The work on Prince Consort Road is now expected to last until spring 2013.

Mark Taylor, co-director for Koru Property Service, said: “We are delighted to once again play a
fundamental role in the regeneration of Gateshead’s town centre.

“This healthcare contract follows the completion of Felling Health Centre in August 2011 for NHS
South of Tyne and Wear. In line with the Trust’s expectations, we are confident that we will hand
over the new facility on time and well within budget.”

Koru are now expanding thanks to a number of contract wins, and will now begin to refurbish the existing premises, overhauling existing heating and electric systems. The investment will help to improve the centre’s energy efficiency, and the addition of a 400 square metre extension will provide the practice with eight extra GP consulting and nurse treatment suites, as well as an onsite pharmacy.

Peter Todd is capital projects manager for NHS South of Tyne and Wear, working on behalf of
Gateshead Primary Care Trust (PCT). He added: “The refurbished premises will provide the people of central Gateshead with a modern, spacious environment which will enable high quality services to be delivered now and into the future.

“This development, in conjunction with the new facility at Trinity Square in Gateshead town centre will provide a step change in terms of the quality and availability of health services in the area.”

Koru is the firm responsible for the construction of the sustainable Gateshead Citizens Advice Centre on Swan Street. Complete late last year and constructed using 52 shipping containers, the building marked the start of the regeneration of Gateshead.

Tony Henderson, co-director, Koru Property Services concluded: “The continuing redevelopment of Gateshead marks an optimistic future for the area, in terms of benefiting the local community as well as drawing people to the area.

“Koru Property Services has been involved in a number of regeneration focused projects in
Gateshead and as a forward-thinking local company we take great pride in working towards making the area a great place to work, live and visit.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .