WORK has begun on the upcoming South Trafford Health and Well-being Centre on the site of the former Altrincham Hospital.

The new hub, on Market Street, is due to open to the public in early 2018.

Site establishment works began on August 22, with demolition of the existing building by Hale-based McAuliffe Environmental Ltd due to start mid to end September.

Construction is expected to get underway early in the New Year, once the main contractor is appointed.

NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Trafford Council are working with Citybranch Ltd on the three-floor development, which has been designed by AFL Architects.

It will incorporate GP health services; a new and improved Altrincham Library and Tourist Information Centre; the Trafford Care Co-ordination Centre; a mix of community services and therapies; a pharmacy; and clinical suites and training areas, including a minor surgery suite, alongside retail space and a café.

There will also be an underground car park with 100 spaces, five disabled bays and a cycle store.

Gina Lawrence, chief operating officer at Trafford CCG, said: “This is a really exciting time for the area. The South Trafford Health and Well-being Centre is part of a wider plan to modernise GP and community health services across the borough.

“Increasingly, the delivery of clinical services will take place in modern spaces and co-located with other community facilities. This centre will also be the new home for the Trafford Care Co-ordination Centre, which is the first of its type in the country.”

There will be further engagement events for residents and local businesses with the CCG and Council, the developer, project managers (Turner and Townsend) and contractors in the coming months.

Anyone with questions about the new centre or the sorts of services it will house, should contact the communications team at Trafford CCG by calling 0161 873 9500; emailing lauren.collins3@nhs.net, or Tweet @TraffordCCG.