A NEW health care centre is set to be open at an old barracks.

The sale of a new medical centre at Preston Barracks to healthcare real estate investment trust Assura has been completed.

The Preston Barracks surgery, which is scheduled for completion in late 2022, is a primary care scheme for the local health system.

Assura will take possession and fit out the space ready for clinical care and retain the long-term ownership of the facility.

The 1,000 square metre primary care facility will accommodate two practices with 13 consulting and treatment rooms, alongside a 60 square metre pharmacy.

The Argus: The 1,000 square meters primary care facility will accommodate two practices with 13 consulting and treatment rooms, alongside a 60 square meters pharmacyThe 1,000 square meters primary care facility will accommodate two practices with 13 consulting and treatment rooms, alongside a 60 square meters pharmacy

It will serve more than 11,000 local patients, with that number expected to rise to 13,000 due to new housing developments.

Roger Serginson, of Assura said: “We’re delighted to be a part of this innovative partnership to create a modern fit for purpose premises for the delivery of primary care services for local patients.

“This is a great example of how by working together, we can help deliver modern accommodation fit for the future which, as the coronavirus pandemic has shown, has never been more important.”

The addition of the medical centre at Preston Barracks comes a year after a 50,000 sq ft Plus X innovation hub and 534 student bedrooms opened in 2020.

A new pedestrian bridge, 369 new homes, five retail spaces and improved public realm will be completed over the course of this year.

Assura manages and owns more than 590 GP surgery, primary care, diagnostic and treatment centre buildings around the UK.

Nationally, the specialist primary care property investor and developer is currently on site with 15 new healthcare developments at a total cost of £71 million.

Rob Sloper, Development Director at U+I, the regeneration specialists who completed the sale said: “Our ambition at Preston Barracks is to create a thriving community in Brighton; a place where people want to live, learn, work and are proud to be a part of.

“The new medical facility will be of real value to the local people, providing them with first‐class care on their doorstep.”