19 April 2017
New Health and Social Care Hub among proposals for former Ellon Academy Site
Outline proposals for the redevelopment of the former Ellon Academy Site and Annexe will be discussed at a meeting of Formartine Area Committee on Tuesday 25th April.
The proposals, which were drawn up following discussions with partner organisations, include:
• new health and social care hub, including a new health centre
• new council office,
• family resource centre,
• affordable housing for social rent,
• extra care housing
Elected members will discuss the report, which provides a summary of the initial proposals. Each proposal will be subject to its own business case scrutiny, but collectively form an approach to the redevelopment of the site and redevelopment of the town centre.
Health and Social Care Hub
Officers have been working in partnership with NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership to develop proposals for a new Health and Social Care Hub.
This will include a replacement building for the current Health Centre and the Adult Day Service building based at 27 Station Road. It will also accommodate the Health and Social Care teams covering Ellon and the surrounding areas, currently based at Schoolhill and 59 Station Road.
The Health and Social Care Hub would have the most up-to-date space and technical standards for GP practices and services. It would also include space to allow for 50% expansion space should the Partnership need to expand to meet the demands of an increasing population.
Council offices
Aberdeenshire Council approved a report entitled ‘Office Space Strategy Assessment Study’ in January, which included a recommendation to “explore options to consolidate offices in Ellon in to a new office”.
The council currently occupies ten town centre properties in Ellon and rents the Kirk Centre for Area Committee.
The proposals would see employees who currently work in Ellon move to either the proposed new council office, new family centre or the new health and social care hub in the town.
Family Resource Centre
The preferred service model for the delivery of social work services for children in need and at risk of harm is through Family Resource Centres. The provision of a Family Resource Centre in Ellon will fill a major gap in service provision in one of the largest settlements in Aberdeenshire.
These facilities provide targeted, timely, single and multi-agency programmes of support to children and their families.
Similar centres have been established in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff, Stonehaven, Portlethen, Banchory, Huntly, Kemnay, Inverurie and Turriff.
Housing
Aberdeenshire Council is committed to the delivery of affordable housing in order to meet identified housing need and accordingly.
This proposal will therefore provide a mix of accommodation types to meet identified housing need within Ellon. This will include, affordable housing for social rent and extra care housing.
Councillors are being asked to provide comments on the proposed rationalisation of properties in Ellon and to agree that further business cases for the various proposals be taken forward.
To learn more about the proposals please read the report, which is available at http://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=5&meetid=18459