Planning for a new Richmondshire health and care campus gets the go-ahead

Formal planning approval has been granted for the new Catterick Integrated Care Campus, bringing construction of a brand-new health and care facility for Richmondshire a step closer.

More than seven years in development, this joint venture between the National Health Service (NHS) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) will provide a range of healthcare services for Armed Forces personnel and their families based at Catterick Garrison and residents of the wider Richmondshire area.

Subject to final clinical modelling, the purpose-build centre on the Garrison will feature primary care, advanced primary care, mental health services, physiotherapy, NHS dentistry for children and adults with a disability and voluntary and community healthcare support providers under one roof.

It is hoped the new Integrated Care Campus will be completed in 2024.

Wendy Balmain, North Yorkshire Place Director for the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (HNYICB) said:

“The NHS and MOD have been working together since 2015 worked to turn the vision for an integrated health and care campus for military and local civilian populations into reality. The formal planning approval is a major milestone, moving us forward with finalising our service proposals and achieving final approvals. I would like to thank all our partners for this significant collective achievement that in time will support the needs of the local community.”

Karina Dare, Regional Partnership Director for North East and Yorkshire at NHS Property Services, said: “Passing this important planning milestone is a fantastic achievement and I want to congratulate the clinical teams as well as the technical team for their time and commitment to reach this stage. We will continue to support our NHS colleagues as we move into the next approvals stage with the ultimate aim of supporting delivery of vital services to the local community.”

Air Commodore Luke Houghton KHP MStJ – Head Healthcare Plans, Headquarters Defence Medical Services for the MOD said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be informed of Richmondshire District Council’s formal planning approval of the Catterick Integrated Care Campus design. This decision paves the way for an exciting future healthcare facility and delivery model for both the NHS and MOD. It is an opportunity to collaborate and work together and to focus on the health needs of the whole population in the area through excellence in joint clinical practice and learning.”

Elected representatives across Richmondshire said the campus would bring healthcare provision closer for many residents of the vast and largely district as well as increasing access to NHS services near to some of North Yorkshire’s most deprived communities.

Councillor Angie Dale, Leader of Richmondshire District Council, said the integrated care campus is a much-needed facility for the district.   “I welcome this development which will complement our vision for Catterick Garrison – it links with the work we are doing on the regeneration of the town centre which is subject to a £19m levelling up bid from central government.”

Throughout the project, appointed contractor, Tilbury Douglas’s aim is to maximise social value for the area, with a focus on new job creation and training opportunities for the local community. They will also engage with local community groups to identify ways in which they can provide support. There are plans to hold future engagement events together with partners for the local community, which will be advertised locally.

Paul Ellenor, Regional Director of Tilbury Douglas Construction said:

“It’s fantastic to have received formal planning permission for the Integrated Care Campus. My team and the project’s design partners have worked hard to develop a scheme that the local community can be proud of. Construction of the new Integrated Care Campus will benefit the local area, both during construction through new employment and training opportunities, and for the life of the building, supporting the community with high quality health care services. My team will now focus on finalising the design and preparing the site for construction to commence early next year.”

Works have already commenced on site to prepare the site for the start of construction in Spring 2023. Several previously unused and dilapidated buildings have now been demolished due to being no longer viable for use.

Baden Powell House, a building with significant history for the local community and MOD will be retained on the site, and following completion of the new health campus, will be refurbished, and remain in use.