Manchester City Council appoints Morgan Sindall Construction to build Gorton Community Hub

Manchester City Council has appointed Morgan Sindall Construction to build a new health and community hub in Gorton.

Discussions are on-going around what services will be available at the hub, but the ambition is to bring together a partnership of public sector organisations, including Manchester City Council, health and social care partners and housing and community service provider, One Manchester.

The purpose-built facility on Garrett Way would create a one-stop resource for local people to access a range of health, social and public services in a single location, all of which are currently delivered by several different providers in different parts of Gorton. This will include moving the Gorton library from its current site close by, with the existing library remaining open until construction is completed.

The demolition of the vacant properties on Garratt Way, formerly offices and a pub, is already under way to make way for the hub

The proposals are being presented to tenants at a series of consultations this week (w/c 24 June). A planning application is expected to be submitted in July, with a start on site planned by late 2019 and completion anticipated in Spring 2021.

In advance of work on site beginning, Morgan Sindall Construction held a jobs fair earlier this year at Gorton Monastery to provide local workers and businesses with the opportunity to become part of the project teams that will deliver its work on the hub.

Attendees at the historic 19th century building were given the chance to meet representatives from Morgan Sindall Construction, its potential Tier 2 supply chain partners and Manchester City Council, all of whom were on hand to share details about the upcoming work and opportunities available on the project. The event formed part of Morgan Sindall Construction’s commitment to providing a boost to the local economy and job market as part of the construction process.

Shaun Jones, North West area director for Morgan Sindall Construction said: “This is precisely the type of development we have a real passion for delivering and we are very pleased to have the opportunity and responsibility to provide these new facilities to the people of Gorton. We look forward to working closely with the city council to ensure the project has a positive community benefit during the construction process.
“I’d like to thank everyone who attended our jobs fair, which provided a valuable demonstration of the impressive pool of talent across Gorton. Holding the event at an early stage created a platform for useful local connections to be established long before the construction process begins. This exciting project will create a range of training, education and employment opportunities and we want to ensure that the money we invest supports local people and economic growth.”

Councillor Bev Craig, Manchester City Council’s executive member for adult health and wellbeing, said: “An approach like this is the embodiment of our belief that you can’t just treat health and social care in isolation – as all the other key elements of life like housing, having a good job, and having fulfilling things to do in our free time are all interconnected with our wellbeing.
“We want to help Manchester people live happier and healthier lives. Accessing services should be easy and joined up, and that’s why we are making public services like health and care work more closely, to provide better support to help people when they need it, to stay fit and well, access good quality jobs and enjoy all the rich social and cultural elements of where they live.”

The hub in Gorton sits alongside several regeneration projects taking place in the area. Manchester’s Housing Investment Fund has backed the development of more than 400 homes, including 183 homes for sale at Connell Gardens in West Gorton and 67 homes for sale and rent at Gorton Monastery.

• For more information about this news release please contact Tom Carlin at Influential on 0161 804 1400 or email carlin@thisisinfluential.com