Construction on a new £10m community hub in Codsall is now underway, following a ground-breaking event to mark the start of the ambitious project, which is expected to open in early 2022.
On Wednesday 11th November 2020, Councillor Brian Edwards MBE, Leader of South Staffordshire Council, joined representatives from Russell House Primary Care Practice, Codsall Library and Seddon to celebrate work commencing onsite.
The Council has been working with partners and surrounding businesses to make sure the new community hub meets the needs of the local community. Seddon was chosen by South Staffordshire Council to refurbish parts of its existing office buildings and construct an extension at the front, which will be the new home for Codsall Library.
As part of the plans, there will be a refurbished café and a retail unit set in an open-plan atrium, increased car parking, office space and community meeting rooms. Russell House Primary Care Practice will also be relocating to the community hub.
Councillor Brian Edwards MBE, Leader of South Staffordshire Council, said: “It is really exciting that construction work is now underway and I’m delighted that our plans are moving forward despite the coronavirus pandemic. We are investing £10m to refurbish and add an extension to the council offices in Codsall and the transformation of the site will secure the building’s long-term future.
“This new facility replaces outdated 1970s heating and hot water systems with new energy-efficient ones, helping reduce the building’s environmental impact and running costs. Electric vehicle charging points will be installed in the car park and batteries in the basement will store electricity to run the building and also enable us to sell surplus energy from solar panels back to the grid.
“Specialist teams from across the public, health, private and voluntary sectors will be co-located together in a modern, agile working and collaborative environment and, when the building is open to the public, residents will benefit from being able to access multiple services on one site right in the heart of the community. I’m sure the community hub will be a huge asset to the district and I’m looking forward to seeing our exciting vision turned into a reality.”
Councillor Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Communities and Culture, said: “Codsall Library is a busy, popular part of the community and it’s an exciting prospect to be part of the expanded community hub. The current library will remain open throughout the building’s refurbishment and once it’s taken up its new space it will be a great platform to develop the service for the future.”
Pat Roberts, Patient Participation Chair at Russell House Primary Care Practice, commented: “We are looking forward to moving into a new surgery that will allow us to expand and see patients in a modern purpose-built space. Our current building was never designed as a practice and we have no patient parking. Going forward, the move will be of great benefit to all our patients, access will be improved, and we look forward to becoming a training practice and increasing our service.”
Stuart Fanshaw, Operations Director at Seddon, added: “It’s great to be starting work on this scheme knowing how much of a difference the new library, GP surgery and additional facilities will make to the community of Codsall. We’re excited to see the changes taking shape over the next 12 months and can’t wait to hand this fantastic new space over to the people of Codsall in early 2022.”
Header image shows (L-R): Pat Roberts, Patient Participation Chair at Russell House Primary Care Practice, Stuart Fanshaw, Operations Director at Seddon, Councillor Brian Edwards MBE, Leader of South Staffordshire Council and Graham Riley, Library Manager at Codsall Library.
