Ambitious plans to create a healthcare hub for North Angus have taken a step forward.
Brechin Healthcare Group (BHG) submitted a community asset transfer request to NHS Tayside to take over the massive Brechin Infirmary site which was deemed surplus to requirements in February 2018.
The group made an application in July for a grant from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) which included the valuation and survey costs of the site.
SLF wanted the group to demonstrate further community support and conduct appropriate surveys to identify the value and costs for renovating the building.
The conditions survey cost £5,100 including VAT and the mechanical and electrical survey cost £5,100 including VAT.
People in Brechin, Edzell and the Glens were asked to stump up the cash and were hailed for “putting their money where their mouths are”.
The Stage 1 SLF application has now been approved and they have been invited to apply to the next stage in the SLF application process which is to apply for funding to purchase the Brechin Infirmary site.
Grahame Lockhart, BHG chairman, said the approval was made possible in large part by the monies raised to pay for the surveys of the infirmary building “clearly demonstrating the support from the community for the proposal to develop a health and wellbeing hub on the site”.
Whilst there is no guarantee that they will get the funding from SLF to purchase the site they are extremely hopeful that the process will move forward as smoothly as possible in the new year.
The Stage 1 SLF approval comes with a grant to develop the BHG business plan for the hub and work on this will commence early in the new year.
The fully-costed business plan will demonstrate the feasibility and sustainability of the hub.
At the present time conversations between BHG and NHS Tayside are taking place on their Community Asset Transfer (CAT) request to take over the infirmary site.
Mr Lockhart said it is hoped that very early in the new year their request will be validated after which they will have six months to satisfy NHS Tayside of their proposals to develop a health and wellbeing hub on the site.
“However, as the infirmary building has been empty for a considerable period and will start to deteriorate there is a pressing need for the CAT request to be validated as soon as possible,” he said.
“The survey reports indicated that work is required to upgrade the infirmary building but at the present time there is no major work requiring immediate attention.
“Any delay in the CAT process will be detrimental to the development of the hub.
“We are very grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for the Stage 1 approval, to those who are working closely with us to take the proposals forward, and most importantly to the people of Brechin, Edzell and the Glens for their continuing support for the health and wellbeing hub on the site of the former Brechin Infirmary.”
