Contractor Morrison Construction and client NHS Grampian agreed that their collaboration was “the essential cornerstone” of the £2.5m joint NHS medical centre and police station on Whinhill Road, Ferryhill.
The contract was procured under the Frameworks Scotland arrangements now being used for healthcare projects in Scotland. The framework will run for four years (2009 -2012) with an option for a two-year extension. Framework partners develop acute care facilities on behalf of Health Boards throughout Scotland. This is one of four Framework Scotland projects that Morrison Construction has on site, with further projects imminent.
Morrison Construction’s operations director Mike Bruce said: “This project clearly demonstrates the potential that contractor led design and build can bring to infrastructure investment. By allowing all the partners (NHS Grampian and Grampian Police, the principal funders and, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Community Health Partnership) to work as one with us, we have been able to drive innovation and save taxpayer’s money in these challenging times.”
A range of measures were used to make savings, including maximum use of internal space and using local labour and supply chain partners.
Gerry Donald, from NHS Grampian, said: “It has been a well run and managed contract by Morrison Construction under these relatively new arrangements of the Frameworks Scotland contract. The quality of the facility is excellent, it was constructed within a very tight timescale, and the cost is less than was originally agreed with Morrison which demonstrates the value of the Frameworks contract to the public purse.”
With a number of sustainable features including air source heat pumps, enhanced insulation and sustainably sourced materials, the building is set to become one of the first in Scotland to achieve a BREEAM Healthcare Excellent rating.
The facility provides six GP consulting rooms on the ground floor, a police station on the first floor, and local authority social service and community nursing offices also on the first floor.
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