State of the art Bradford health centre could 'kickstart' regeneration
Medical company Standard Health wants to transform a derelict office into a state of the art health centre
A NEW, state of the art health centre could “kickstart” the regeneration of Bradford’s Southern Gateway – it has been claimed.
Medical company Standard Health says it will make a “considerable investment” in the derelict former Kingfisher House office building, which it will convert into an orthopaedic care centre.
It is one of the first big investments announced for that area since Bradford Council announced its plans for the “Southern Gateway.”
Located between Manchester Road and Leeds Road, the Southern Gateway is seen as one of the major regeneration schemes in the coming decades.
It is hoped that Bradford’s planned through rail station will be built in this area of the city, and the Council also believes that 2,500 homes and numerous new industrial areas and community spaces could be created in this quarter of the city.
The aim is for the site to be transformed by 2050.
The planning application to refurbish former office building Kingfisher House on Filey Street, off Wakefield Road, was approved by Bradford Council last month.
The building was once offices for the Royal Bank of Scotland, but has been empty for years and is currently a shell after previous proposals to refurbish the building fell through.
Standard Health provides orthopaedic care for the NHS, and the new health centre would include an operating theatre, diagnostic suite, physiotherapy space and inpatient recovery facilities – including rooms for patients to recover overnight.
The company has now revealed more detail about the centre, which will offer robotics aided surgery and provide training for surgeons and nurses.
Bradford Council says the investment in the site was a “real boost” for the Southern Gateway plans.
Despite being just a few minutes’ walk from Bradford city centre, the area around the planned medical has suffered from a lack of investment in recent years.
Although a new business park, Jinnah Court, has been built near Kingfisher House in recent years, the former Eastbrook Mills site on the other side of Filey Street remains vacant and overgrown, despite plans for a new industrial estate there being approved in 2021.
Development of a derelict site in Bradford centre is set to kickstart a key area of future regeneration in the city.
In a new statement about their plans, Standard Health said the work will be “a significant step in addressing the demand for enhanced medical facilities in Bradford.”
Dr Gorav Datta of Standard Health added: “Standard Health is delighted to obtain planning permission to convert Kingfisher House into a state-of-the-art orthopaedic ambulatory surgical centre.
“There will be a considerable investment to provide digital operating theatres allowing the latest innovations in orthopaedic surgery including robotics, an imaging suite, and in-patient facilities to allow seamless patient pathways from admission to rehabilitation.
“The facility will treat NHS patients and also contribute to the training of surgeons and nursing staff alike. We aim to provide the highest quality in patient care, with the best outcomes and patient satisfaction.”
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Alex Ross-Shaw said: “It is a real boost for the area to have an initial investment at this level and we anticipate further such investment will follow in what will be a key area of regeneration for Bradford.
“This new facility will create a centre of excellence bringing with it new specialist skills, and employment opportunities.”
Mark Cowgill, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, agreed: “This investment into Bradford is most welcome and a testimony to the faith entrepreneurs have in the city.
“The fact that Standard Health Group has selected a site within the proposed ‘Southern Gateway’ zone is a sign of the incredible potential this landmark regeneration project has to deliver for the region.
“This will provide yet another boost to a city economy which is heading very much in the right direction.”
Owner of the property, Saleem Akhtar of SA Properties said: “As SA Properties and Jinnah Group, we have been making a number of commitments to Bradford that has seen us invest millions into the city over recent years.
“Going forward, we have more plans to invest in the Southern Gateway and local area and are excited about how the city finally moves forward on the back of the some of the initiatives being promoted by the Council.
“We hope Standard Health can become the early win for the Southern Gateway, which brings more investment in the area.”