Teignmouth Health and Wellbeing Centre plans 'to be axed'
The NHS is blaming rising costs for the decision
Major plans for a new Health and Wellbeing Centre in Teignmouth have been cancelled - with health bosses blaming spiralling costs.
Health bosses say the cost of the building has more than doubled due to increasing construction prices and rises in the cost of borrowing since estimated costs were published in 2020.
When the NHS consulted on plans to relocate the most well-used services from Teignmouth Community Hospital to a new health and wellbeing centre in the middle of town in autumn 2020, the estimated cost was about ÂŁ8 million.
It's now claimed current cost estimates for the building have risen to about ÂŁ19 million.
At a meeting on the 25th of July, NHS Devon's set to recommend ÂŁ9m designated for urgent remedial work across the NHS estate shouldn't be diverted to the centre.
The following day, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust’s Board will seek to endorse the recommendation made to the NHS Devon Board.
NHS Devon says it will also allow the NHS to fast-track work to support Channel View Medical Group, which was due to relocate from its two town centre bases into the new building.
A solution is needed as the lease on one of Channel View’s sites – in the Den Crescent – ends on 31 March 2025.
Steve Moore, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Devon, who took on the role in February 2024, said: “I want to say sorry to people in Teignmouth and especially the patients and staff of Channel View Medical Group, who were looking forward to the opening of the new health and wellbeing centre.
“We have a legal duty to ensure local people have access to general practice services and I can reassure you that we are absolutely committed to finding a sustainable solution and creating a brighter future for primary care in Teignmouth.”
The plan was for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to take a head lease on the health and wellbeing centre from the developer and pay rent while sub-letting the majority of the building to the GP practice.
TSDFT Chief Executive Liz Davenport said: “We’re very sorry that the scheme now looks unlikely to proceed after so much work has gone into it. We were confident it could be delivered but the project has faced procedural and financial obstacles at every turn and, combined, they now look insurmountable.
“We will continue to provide local services in Teignmouth from our existing buildings until sustainable alternatives are found.”