Construction work has now started on site at the proposed new Bewsey and Dallam Community Hub on Longshaw Street, with the recent appointment of the principal contractor, Whitfield & Brown Limited.
Originally developed through the Delivering Wellbeing in Bewsey and Dallam programme, the £3.25m facility forms part of the Council’s wider regeneration plans for the area.
The dementia-friendly hub will be approximately 953m2 in size, spread over three storeys. The ground floor will host a learner/hydro-therapy pool, changing village, social zone, digital wellbeing suite, community room and there will be a small library offer.
The first floor will be home to a new fitness suite, changing facilities and multi-use room, with the second floor containing a multi-purpose studio, kitchen and community store.
Plans will also be developed to provide a range of other supporting, integrated activities to enable the hub to become a place for residents to interact, grow and learn in a supportive environment.
Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for leisure and community, Cllr Tony Higgins, said: “The Bewsey and Dallam Community Hub is a hugely important facility, which will make a real difference to local people’s lives. This is why we’ve remained fully committed to the project, despite some of the challenges we’ve faced in its delivery.
“I’m absolutely delighted that these obstacles have now been overcome, and that the scheme is now on-site and moving forward. It will provide a much-needed community facility in the area and support our vision to improve leisure, learning and wellbeing opportunities for people throughout Bewsey and Dallam.”
The hub – which is being delivered by Warrington & Co. through combined capital investment from Warrington Borough Council, Sport England, the Better Care Fund and Torus – will be located on Longshaw Street, opposite the playing fields and next to an existing children’s play area. It is placed between Bewsey and Dallam with a view to serving both communities.
Matthew Parker, Operations Director for LiveWire said: “We are delighted that construction has started on Bewsey and Dallam Hub and are very happy that we will have the opportunity to operate this exciting new facility which will be extremely positive for the local community.”
The design team comprises Walker Simpson Architects, ECS Building Services Consultants & MDA Wirral Structural Engineers and Baker Mallett LLP will project manage the delivery of the scheme.
Nigel Biggs, Managing Director of Whitfield & Brown Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be part of the delivery team responsible for creating this much needed facility for the local community.
There is great potential during the construction process to involve the wider community with the local labour agenda and we are excited at the prospect of integrating Warrington & Vale Royal College students so they gain from the opportunity of work placements/ work experience. This will be a fabulous community project for all concerned.”
The hub will take approximately 13 months to construct and is scheduled to be open to the public in summer 2020.
Faye Dolan, an esteemed professional and Framework Director at Procure Partnerships, boasts a rich and diverse career spanning seven years in the construction industry. Faye’s journey within Procure Partnerships began in 2018 as a Key Account Manager, initially overseeing the North West region and later extending her purview to the entire North.
