A joint sod-cutting ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on a "ground-breaking" new health village and car park.

The Aberdeen project (full title: Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village) will see a range of healthcare services under one roof.

The multi-storey car park has a target opening date of November, making it the first of the buildings to be completed.

The ceremony, on-site in Frederick Street, was performed by Sue Kinsey and Barbara Lamb from the Health Village Project Board and Communications and Involvement Group.

This is the first 'Design, Build, Finance and Maintain' contract in Scotland taken forward under the Scottish Futures Trust hub delivery process. Responsibility for the delivery of the facilities lies with hub North Scotland Ltd and they are being built by main contractor Miller Construction.

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A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said: "The Health Village is groundbreaking in the way it has been enabled and will provide services. The innovative procurement route means the building will be delivered and maintained by hub North Scotland Ltd throughout its first 25 years, after which ownership is transferred to NHS Grampian."

The 6,000 square metre Health Village will provide minor surgery, radiology, dentistry, sexual health services, podiatry, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and dietetics in an outpatient setting, over three levels. It is due to open in December 2013.

Some of the services currently in healthcare buildings due to close in the next few years, including the Denburn Health Centre, Woolmanhill Hospital, and the Westburn Centre, will relocate to the Health Village.

(NE)