Local school children help celebrate Gorton Hub milestone as development begins to take shape
- Steel structure emerges from the site on Hyde Road
- Key project to integrate a range of health and social care services, along with other public services under one roof for the first time for Gorton people
Young people in Gorton have been invited to ceremonially sign the steel structure of the Gorton Hub project to celebrate the development at a key milestone.
Pupils from St James Church of England Primary School were invited to the development site by lead contractor Morgan Sindall Construction.
The students completed a drawing competition about the Hub over the summer holidays with the winners given the honour of putting their names on the steel frame which will be enclosed within the building as a lasting memorial.
The steelwork phase of the development programme marks a celebratory point for the project on the corner of Hyde Road and Whitwell Way (and Garrett Way) to create a one-stop-shop hub for a GPs, pharmacy, integrated community health and social care services, a new local library and offices for housing provider One Manchester.
This will bring together a range of different services under the same roof for the first time, which are currently delivered in different parts of the local neighbourhood. Allowing people to access different support networks much more easily for local people, while also creating new community space within the new hub.
A key part of the integrated community building will be a new, modern library, offering leisure, learning, digital access and community activities for local residents. With the same overall footprint and community spaces as the existing library, the library will be a welcoming and friendly space for local residents of all ages and all communities.
Morgan Sindall Construction is the appointed contractor to the project, which is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2022.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see this development come out of the ground. And we would like to give a reassurance to the people of Gorton that this project is moving forward, which will create a truly integrated health and social care hub in their community.
“We know that all aspects of people’s lives are interconnected – everything from health, social care, and housing – so it makes sense that our residents can access all of these public services – including a new library - all in one place, at their own convenience.
“Fundamentally this is about helping people live healthier, happier lives.”
Shaun Jones, Greater Manchester area director for Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Manchester City Council to enhance the community offering in Gorton.
“The build programme is progressing well and we’re undertaking a range of training, education and employment programmes to ensure that the money we invest supports the people of Gorton – meaning the impact of this project is already being felt in the local community.
“This project is all about making Gorton a better place to live for current and future generations, and so we were delighted to welcome students from St James Church of England Primary School to sign the steel structure of the new Hub and to make their own contribution to this fantastic new development.”