31/07/2024

Following the recent announcement that funding has been secured to obtain and refurbish the derelict Budgens supermarket, we are pleased to confirm that the upper ground floor of the building is to become an exciting new medical facility for the local Helios Health Partnership.

Helios Health Partnership was created in 2023, bringing together the organisations that run Meneage Street Surgery, Helston Medical Centre and Porthleven Surgery, and St Mary’s Health Centre on the Isles of Scilly. Whilst each of these GP surgeries has a strong and proud sense of identity to the community it serves and its staff, they have a shared approach to improving health by wanting to provide care, centred around the person.

A new, purpose-built GP practice will be provided for the patients of Meneage Street Surgery, using around three-quarters of the original supermarket floor space. 19 consulting and treatment rooms as well as support team rooms will form a modern surgery that supports both the current and future needs of the town.

The rest of the upper ground floor will host three community rooms to support well-being related activities including for physical and mental health, plus meeting and social spaces.

The project has been made possible by close working between South Kerrier Alliance CIC (SKA), Helios Health Partnership, Cornwall Council, and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB).

SKA is leading on the project, with £2.63M of capital funding supplied by Cornwall Council through its Good Growth Programme and Town Centre Revitalisation Fund. Helios is working in partnership with the ICB to support the ongoing running costs of the new surgery. Building work has already begun, with a target date to complete by March 2025.

image courtesy of PBWC Architects

Dr Jim Tait, GP Partner at Helios Health Partnership said “I’m delighted that we are able to deliver a much-needed increase in premises capacity for Helston. Our Meneage Street patients can look forward to a new GP surgery that is designed to the latest health standards and fully accessible.

“With the area’s population rising in age and need, we have to be able to address future health concerns and promote healthier lifestyles. This purpose-built facility will provide a notable amount of extra capacity to support both the physical and mental health needs of local residents.

“Alongside that, we have to be able to inspire, train, recruit and retain healthcare workers of all types here in our community. This building will allow us to do so, with dedicated training capacity.

An open event is being held at the site on Thursday 12 September for patients to drop in anytime between 3pm and 6pm. There will be an opportunity to see first-hand the plans and the progress, as well as a presentation at 3pm and 5pm.

Dr Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB said “We are pleased to share such positive news for the people of Helston. Breathing new life into a building that was a former supermarket will create a brand-new, fit for purpose GP surgery just a stone’s throw from the current site. But more than that, it will offer flexible spaces which foster a broader approach to the care needs of local residents with support from the community and voluntary sector.

“This is in keeping with a more community and patient centred approach to looking after people’s health, and will help to ensure that care is provided as close as possible to home, both now and into the future.”

Funding of £2,131,806 is provided from central Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is managed by Cornwall Council, with an additional £500,000 from Cornwall Council’s Town Centre Revitalisation Fund.

Cllr Linda Taylor, Leader of Cornwall Council said “This is a great example of our Good Growth Funding programme empowering local organisations to work with the public sector to address the real needs within their communities. These two significant capital funding awards will help deliver a new facility that will make a real difference.”

David Turnbull, Director of SKA said “We were determined to find a way to make this building work for everyone in Helston and provide the essential services our town deserves. Helston desperately needs more GP surgery space, and building this alongside multi-use space supporting community activities, physical and mental health groups linked to the surgery, is great news.

“With planning underway to create an activity space for young people and families in the lower ground floor, this building will be turned from a derelict eyesore into a fantastic asset for the area.

“We’re grateful for the groundwork done by the Helston Place Shaping Team and invaluable support from our Cornwall Councillors Guy Foreman and Mike Thomas, the help and assistance from many Cornwall Council Officers and Cabinet Members and continuing support from Helston Town Council.”

The supermarket was built in 1985 and operated under the Gateway brand before spells as a Somerfield, Coop and latterly Budgens retail outlet. Since it closed in 2017 it has proven difficult to find a viable use for the space, and its worsening state has attracted increasing anger amongst Helston’s residents.

The building’s lower floor was recently opened for a community consultation. 367 people attended the five-hour Saturday afternoon session, which was designed to attract younger people and capture their views on the types of activities they would like in the building. The top activity requests were climbing wall, roller skating, graffiti art, skateboarding, parkour and DJ skills. Other popular responses included circus skills, coding club, community café, events and computer gaming. In all, a wide range of over 100 other suggestions were collected. The project team is now working to secure further funding to develop the lower floor.

SKA is responsible for the construction works and ongoing management of the building once complete. A registered Community Interest Company (CIC) created in 2008, SKA is a Not-For-Profit organisation which will ensure that any surplus from running the building will be invested back into its operation.

Read more about the plans for the Helston Gateway project here.