Our estates work
Our estates work (any works impacting buildings, grounds or infrastructure services) is an important part of improving how we deliver health and care services within Frimley Health and Care.
We are investing in upgrading facilities across the system in a coordinated way, ensuring public money is spent wisely to provide flexible, accessible spaces where people need them the most.
As well as improving the experience and outcomes for patients, we have a goal to help staff work more efficiently by making the best use of our buildings and digital tools.
Below you will find information on some of the key estates projects taking place.
Several of Bracknell Forest’s health services will be brought bang up to date with the creation of a custom-made centre for health, currently under construction (April 2025).
The three-storey development is being built next to the existing Skimped Hill Health Centre.
The new premises will house Evergreen Practice and Forest Health Group, as well as maternity services and some children’s and young people’s services and community services.
The planning application, with architects designs (No: 24/00249/FUL), can be found on the Bracknell Forest Council planning portal: planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/online-applications/
The aim is for patients and service users to have a much better healthcare experience in the more spacious, brighter, purpose-built facilities. Staff working in the hub will also benefit from their new environment.
Jeremy Mellins, Senior GP Partner at Forest Health Group, said: “Like many GP practices nationwide, we in Evergreen Practice and Forest Health Group are working in cramped conditions and our practices are in serious need of expansion in order to be able to serve our growing patient population and to offer a broader range of services. This new building will be a huge improvement for patients and staff and will allow us to provide a much better quality service for many years into the future.”
The project is part of a national drive to boost community-based healthcare services, providing funding to bring services together in the same place. With better local services, the intention is that people can receive treatment more quickly, nearer home, reducing the need for them to go to hospital.
Nicola Airey, NHS Frimley Place Convenor for Bracknell Forest, said: “The Bracknell Forest Centre for Health will be a major boost for those services that will be housed in it and for their many patients and service users.
“To be able to build next to the existing health centre will allow for a smooth transition for those services moving across and will also allow those services staying put to expand into the newly-vacated space in the old building – so it’s a win-win situation.”
Farnham’s town centre GP practice is continuing its preparations for its highly anticipated move to its new bespoke home nearby.
Downing Street Group Practice, which has been in its current location for over 200 years, will soon relocate to Wey Court East, Union Road, in Autumn 2024.
A major refurbishment has been underway at Wey Court East, to transform the former office building, into a modern, state-of-the-art facility.
Dr Edward Wernick, GP Partner at Downing Street Group Practice said: “The work is progressing well, it is exciting to think that it won’t be long until we will be able to welcome patients into our new home.
“The larger, bespoke premises will allow us to continue to support our patient population in a modern and spacious setting and will give us the capacity to cater to the growing population of Farnham.”
Wey Court East is a mere 200 metres from the current practice, with town centre parking nearby. A lift will support people with disabilities and reduced mobility to access the first floor.
The building is owned by Waverley Borough Council, which has been supporting the practice with its plans.
Councillor Mark Merryweather, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Property, said: “We’re looking forward to the completion of the refurbishment and Downing Street Group Practice being able to move in and begin seeing patients in the new space.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with the Downing Street Group Practice to deliver this important facility for the benefit of the residents of Farnham and Waverley. We are extremely pleased that we have been able to help ensure that the practice can stay in the heart of Farnham town centre and allow them to grow and meet the needs of our local community”.
The number to call the practice (01252 716226) will remain the same. The practice will look to change its name after it relocates.
To keep up-to-date on the relocation, please follow the practice on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/downingstreetgrouppractice, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/downingstreetgrouppractice or visit the practice website www.downingstreetsurgery.co.uk.
NHS Frimley and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have been conducting a detailed review of options regarding the relocation of Jubilee Ward, a well-regarded community in-patient ward, currently based within Upton Hospital, Slough that offers essential short-term care and discharge support for patients with diverse needs. Patients on Jubilee Ward are people living with frailty, long term conditions, reduced mobility and those suffering with dementia or confusion.
Updated June 2024: The latest update is below:
Updated 29 September 2023
We know residents are keen to understand what is happening about the Sunningdale Health Hub.
We would like to reassure residents, our partners and stakeholders, that we continue to be committed to the Sunningdale Health Hub Development to offer the best possible care for patients in a meticulously designed building to meet both present and future health needs.
We appreciate the support we have received locally to get us to the point of having planning permission approved.
We will continue to update this page with the latest updates.
Planning application update:
Although the planning application for the Sunningdale Health Hub was approved in March 2022, by the planning committee of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, there was one technicality remaining that we have been working through with the planning authority and the land owners of the Lynwood site.
On 20 September 2023 the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead granted full planning permission for the Sunningdale Health Hub. Click the link to view: Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
It is from this date the 3 year planning permission period begins.
Other updates:
As part of the governance around investing public funds an outline business case for the development was submitted at the time of seeking planning permission with the financial case for this was based on a series of cost assumptions. To continue to progress the development, amongst other things, we will submit a full business case, which will need to include a refreshed economic and financial case which is expected to change due to the timeline and market forces on costs of new developments.
We continue to produce a revised Business Case for the funding from the national NHS Estates Investment Programme. This is necessary to progress the development of local Integrated Care Hubs across Frimley ICS, which includes the Sunningdale development. As with all Public Funding, this business case is still subject to approval both locally within the Integrated Care System (ICS) and also through national organisations such as NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care.
Whilst we focus on the business case, there is now a national pause on the Estates Investment Programme, which locally we have no control over, but we continue to highlight the importance of this facility as an essential to patient care in our fast growing community.
Listening to local people
We have been working closely with the local community since 2017 to develop a proposal for a new health hub that will bring together Magnolia House Surgery and Kings Corner Surgery on a single site and within a new, purpose-built building.
Through our activity, we have continued to review all the available evidence to make sure our plans for the Sunningdale Health Hub deliver the best possible care for patients, in a building that is carefully designed to allow flexible use to meet future clinical needs. Click here to view a newsletter update.
You can view a project presentation here and the Q&A document here
Click here or on the video below to view a meeting held in 2021