Hub North Scotland joint venture has reached financial close on the first project in the North hub programme, the £24m Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village (Health Village).

Comprising Alba Community Partnerships, Scottish Futures Trust and the 18 Northern Territory Partners, hub North Scotland which is set to deliver £435 million of community facilities over the next 10 years, will deliver the 65,000 sqft complex and provide the on-going facilities management for the next 25 years.

During its peak, the project will employ approximately 100 people on site.

Located at Frederick Street, Aberdeen, the Health Village is an urban community hospital without beds. The diagnostic and treatment centre will operate between 8am – 8pm Monday – Friday. The Health Village will, working with primary and community care, support people to remain well, independent and in their own communities supporting self care.

Angus Macfarlane, Chief Executive, hub North Scotland, said: "We are delighted to have reached financial close on this significant project. This is the first DBFM (Design Build, Finance and Maintain) contract to be let in Scotland through the hub programme and we look forward to delivering it. NHS Grampian will benefit from three storeys of clinical and administrative space which will provide improved health care for the people of Aberdeen and across Grampian.

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"The main contractor for the build is Miller Construction and the on-going facilities management will be provided by Miller Asset 24. Work is anticipated to start shortly, and the Health Village will be ready to welcome patients towards the end of 2013."

In addition to the Health Village, a new 185-space multi-storey car park is also being built. The car park, which will be owned and operated by Aberdeen City Council, is scheduled to open later this year.

Jackie Bremner, Project Director, NHS Grampian said: "We are delighted that this exciting project has obtained approval and that construction is about to start. The creation of the Health Village will ensure that services are more accessible within the community, complementing the health and care services provided in GP surgeries and health centres. Also supporting people to remain within their own homes and have more control over their health and wellbeing. Working closely with GPs and the staff at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) it will facilitate the provision of more treatment and diagnosis within the community and reduce the need to go to ARI unless there is a need for very urgent or highly specialised services."

The Health Village will provide a wide range of services, in an accessible location, including: out patient clinics, minor surgery, dentistry, radiology, sexual health services, podiatry, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, carer's advice and information centre, a healthpoint information service, a café, and learning space that can be used by patients, carers and staff.

Alba Community Partnerships is a 50/50 joint venture between Miller Construction and Cyril Sweett Investments Ltd.

(GK)