Surveyors put skills into practice for doctors

Angie Crompton, Darren Good, Andrew Rowson, Bryan Henshall, Dr David Wright (L-R)

Johnson Fellows has started work as project managers on a £4 million new build project for a Telford medical practice, which will provide the local community with state-of-the-art facilities.

The Birmingham-based chartered surveyors have also been appointed to provide architectural design services for the redevelopment of Donnington Medical Practice. The existing building is being demolished and then rebuilt and extended.

Andrew Rowson, building consultancy partner at Johnson Fellows, said: “The new 20,000 sq ft, two-storey building in Wrekin Drive, Telford, will provide ample space to accommodate the existing 25-strong team as well as any future recruits. The flexible layout will complement changes in medical procedures and comprise a minor operation suite, consultation rooms, pharmacy, and clinical space for the practice’s eight doctors.”

Bryan Henshall, business manger for Donnington Medical Practice, said: “Our current building is a 1960’s single storey design that is out-dated, cramped and not compliant with current primary care standards. We needed to upgrade the building to enable us to offer more services to our 12,500 registered patients.”

Angie Crompton, practice manager for the Donnington Medical Practice, said: “It is important that the practice remains operational throughout the building work, so initially only half of the building has been demolished while some of the team has been moved to temporary modular accommodation.”

Johnson Fellows has experienced challenges during the project after the team discovered a below ground culvert in the former coal mining area, which required the designs to be revised.

The surveyors have also been advised by Telford & Wrekin Council’s geotechnical team to carry out exploratory boreholes to see if previous coal mine workings are evident.

Andrew added: “This project hasn’t been without its challenges so far, with the risk of unrecorded coal mines being discovered. We’ve also had to install a sub station so we could disconnect and divert all main services, which were connected to the adjacent ambulance station, to the new building. However, we’re now all set to start building the fantastic new state-of-the-art facility.”

The new building, which will be built to BREEAM Very Good standard, is due to be completed by October 2013. Halesowen-based A&H Construction is the contractor on the project.