The Glebe, Storrington
The new surgery in Storrington boasts c1350 sqm of accommodation in an architecturally beautiful building that is well suited to its rural Sussex location in the South Downs National Park.
Our Client’s Needs
The Glebe partners had a desperate need for more space. The other practice in Storrington had closed, which left 12,000 patients being seen from a surgery building of just 450 sqm and inadequate portacabins.
Despite the clear need for additional room, finding a suitable site would be challenging. Storrington is a rural town in West Sussex within the South Downs National Park. Land prices in the area are high and planning requirements stringent.
The GPs needed a surgery that would not only accommodate their existing future patient list but also allow them to achieve their other goals as a practice, including developing a more proactive care model with multidisciplinary teams operating from the same premises.
MCD’s Approach
Once we had a clear understanding of the practice’s requirements and needs, as well as clarity on the CCG’s parameters for the development, we started the search for a suitable location. Land in the area is prohibitively expensive but we found a solution by working with the Diocese of Chichester. They had a piece of land near the existing surgery which they were keen to develop as a small residential scheme. We were able to partner with them and use the planning process to secure a site for the medical centre at modest cost, via a Section 106 Agreement.
In terms of the design of the medical centre, we understand the importance of the building environment on staff and patient wellbeing. We also appreciate the need to help reduce running costs and the longer-term environmental impact of the building through its design. With this in mind we used specialist primary care building designers, D&R Architects, to create a space that is both light and airy, with interesting architectural features, whilst still being functional and logical for patient-staff flows around the building.
We also designed the building with the need for rooms to be multi-functional in mind. This flexibility enables them to be used by different care professionals as required, as well as various patient support groups.
Our Solution
Storrington now has a medical facility that not only meets the needs of the local population but is also a building patients and staff can be proud of.
The building was opened as the COVID pandemic hit and was quickly designated a COVID hot hub and one of the first COVID vaccination centres in the country. This was all enabled by the design, layout, and accessibility of the building, the onsite-car park, and the extremely dedicated and efficient practice team.
As well as meeting the immediate needs of the pandemic, the new building will cater to the practice’s longer-term requirements. In terms of reducing energy costs and environmental efficiency, it has achieved BREEAM Excellent sustainability standard and boasts air source heat pumps, electric car charging points, state-of-the-art insulation, as well as movement sensors for lights, and other energy-efficient mechanical and electrical installations. With regards to efficient working practices and aiding communication between multidisciplinary teams, the new building allows different specialisms to work alongside each other and provides space on-site for allied health services including counselling, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.
