Surbiton Health Centre and Primary School

This project was the redevelopment of the former Surbiton Hospital site into a community campus with two new buildings: a primary school, and a clinic for primary health services.

The new clinic, Surbiton Health Centre, is around 4,500sqm and comprises four GP practices, outpatient services and facilities for minor operations, diagnostics and therapy treatments, returning community services to the community.

Challenges

The site was in a conservation area with a high density of mature trees protected by tree preservation orders and a building of Townscape Merit. Even so, planning consent was achieved in just 13 weeks.

During the demolition process, uncharted asbestos was found within underground ducts, boiler plant and subsoil areas which indicated a 12-week delay to the works. Willmott Dixon team re-programmed the project, to claw back the time lost.

“A unique community development which will act as a hub for local services and maximises cost benefits by sharing planning, design and development costs.”

Clinton Pascoe, head teacher, Lime Tree Primary School

Performance and innovations

The two buildings share a heat and power centre, and save 40% of their energy costs as a result.

The introduction of Comdeck allowed the foundation scheme to be greatly simplified offering both a cost saving – by eliminating pile spoil, ground beam excavation, and anti-heave protection – plus a significant reduction in programme.
The foundation package for the health centre was completed in 12 weeks, ahead of programme.