Work begins on 'health village'

Construction has begun on a multi-million pound so-called "health village" on Teesside.

Plans for the health and social care facility at Low Grange, South Bank, were first revealed five years ago.

The complex will feature accommodation for four GP practices and a range of primary care services and later residential care for the elderly.

The centre, situated next to Normanby Road library, is expected to open to the public in April 2010.

New direction

Colin McLeod, chief executive of Redcar & Cleveland Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "This exciting new development will provide an expanded range of high quality services from a state of the art facility to thousands of patients."

Redcar MP Vera Baird, who was at a ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, added: "This sort of investment in new health facilities is exactly the direction we should be heading in."

The project is a partnership between Redcar & Cleveland PCT and specialist health premises developer Ettrick Health Ltd.