April 2022
Planning Win for New Portsmouth Medical Centre
Hunters’ Architects have won planning for a new medical practice in Portsmouth, Hampshire. The project, on behalf of Solent NHS Trust, is part of the relocation of North Harbour Medical Group away from a not-fit-for-purpose space they are currently in, so patients and staff can experience a much more suitable and attractive health centre.
The practice will house six consulting rooms and three treatment rooms, with a bright and uplifting entrance / waiting area. All key consultancy and treatment rooms are located on the perimeter to access natural light. The purpose-built development will have high quality staff facilities, a clear separation between public / clinical / staff areas and the plant area will be hidden within the roof. The design is Health Building Notes and Health Technical Memorandums compliant. The plans were based on the analysis of clinical flows / activity and give over 550sqm of space.
The site is currently used as a car park and has a number of mature trees surrounding it, these will be retained and act as a natural softener to the new scheme and provide shade. The design responds to the adjacent Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre next door, with their new pedestrian access points designed for privacy with no visual interaction between the buildings.
Massing builds a relationship with the heights of surrounding properties whilst the double height aluminium entrance is extended in the corner to act as an interesting marker for the new practice. Red brickwork reflective of the local vernacular with protruding detail has articulated the wall facades. The entrance bursts into life with a lime green canopy and horizontal brise soleil.
Initially other sites were investigated, but this site, Highclere, is vacant and readily available requiring minimal disruption, and a within a short walking distance from the current surgery. Currently the practice is sharing facilities for over 10,000 patients at the Cosham Health Centre a dated 1970’s building owned by NHS property services.
The scheme is expected to go onsite in July 2022 and complete in June 2023.