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Morgan Sindall Construction has completed construction work on The Gorton Hub in Manchester.
The community project was delivered for Manchester City Council.
Procured via the North West Construction Hub framework, the £20.3 million new build is a learning, health, and community hub in Manchester, bringing a range of services together under one roof for the first time.
From health and social care to employment support and training, the hub offers a wide range of services and community facilities including use as a 'Warm Space' through winter. The new modern building will lower the carbon footprint of the services who are currently located at separate and inefficient sites. Through innovation applied during the design stage, Morgan Sindall’s steel frame solution has saved a further 561tCO₂e embodied carbon within the fabric of the building.
As such, the project is an exemplar model of how Morgan Sindall Construction's Intelligent Solutions approach supports its customers to decarbonise buildings and improve occupant wellbeing while enhancing lives and communities.
The purpose-built facility will not only become the new home for The Gorton Medical Centre GP practice, but will also be home to NHS community health teams, along with social care teams and an on-site pharmacy.
The Gorton Hub will provide services to increase and drive the workforce in the area, offering adult education sessions in English, Maths, ICT and ESOL, along with a Jobcentre Plus that will provide resources and information about jobs, training, claims and universal credit. A new library space will also be available within the Hub, creating a modern and vibrant safe space for learning, reading, and studying.
The three-story building will give visitors access to One Manchester, a provider of housing and community services within the region that help people manage their money, find work, start-up businesses and stay healthy and well. Services offered include employment support, skill building, literacy training, digital support, and enterprise services for One Manchester residents.
The construction process has created £16m Social Value in the local area – a return on investment of 78% of the project value.
The social value figures represent Morgan Sindall Construction's commitment to local employment and training, community engagement, volunteering time, charitable donations, carbon literacy training and investment in micro, small and medium enterprises from the local area.
The use of CarboniCa saw the adoption of photovoltaic panels, air source heat pumps, thermal wheel heat recovery and efficient lighting, resulting in 532 tonnes of embodied carbon being saved.
Morgan Sindall Construction have created an ongoing partnership with Ryder Brow Allotments who offer NHS funded 'gardening on prescription' by Sow the City for all ages and backgrounds. The site team also created partnerships with local colleges throughout the construction process to raise aspirations, promote inclusivity and future careers.
The team worked alongside community groups to enhance the resources for those less fortunate in the area, including a repair and refurbishment of the Gorton Community Grocer, which is a food sharing programme. Other groups the site team collaborated with are the Oasis Centre, overseeing the donations of seasonal treats such as Easter eggs, Christmas presents and toys, as well as Rainbow Haven, a service that provides community drop-in sessions offering support and activities for refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants. Over £10,000 and 200 volunteering hours have been invested into the Gorton Community to leave a lasting legacy.
Further honouring the commitment, Morgan Sindall Construction engaged with Gorton History Group to develop branding and artwork for the hoarding around the Hub during its construction, celebrating local heritage and culture.
