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Landmark buildings lie at heart of multi-million bid to transform public
services
Wigan is to get a stunning new central library and swimming pool as part
of plans to create a unique public service 'hub' that will revitalise
the town’s civic heart.
The multi-million pound project – officially known as the Joint Service
Centre (JSC) – will create a state of the art leisure, health and
information complex including a new one stop shop for all public
services.
After an exhaustive year-long selection process, councillors this week
selected the Access consortium to design and build the centre, which
will feature two iconic ‘landmark’ buildings.
The new 25m swimming pool and central library – including separate
children’s and teenage libraries - have been designed by the same team
responsible for Brighton Library, which has already won 17 design
awards.
Services provided by the council and its housing and leisure partners,
the police, the NHS, the fire service and community and voluntary groups
will all be accessible under one roof.
A vital part of the project will link the service centre to a network of
contact points, or ‘spokes’, in each of the borough’s ten townships
across the borough, providing local face-to-face, phone or computer
access to services.
The scheme will take over two years to build and will be located on the
site of the Municipal Buildings (preserving the distinctive terracotta
façade), the Wiend children’s library and International Pool.
It is being paid for using £67M of Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
credits for which Wigan had to compete against more than 100 other
councils. This means the private sector bears the initial building and
running costs, which are paid back over 25 years using the government
credits. The building then belongs to the council.
Wigan Council Leader Peter Smith said: “By joining up public services in
this way we’ll be able to sort out most people’s enquiries at the first
point of contact. It will create truly accessible, high quality public
services that put the customer first in all parts of our borough.”
He added: “This is one of the most ambitious council schemes being
undertaken in the UK and we been able to prove beyond doubt that we are
capable of delivering it successfully.”
The swimming pool, fitness centre and health and social care services
will form a Healthy Living Zone, while the new central library on the
site of the Municipal Buildings will lie at the heart of an Information
and Learning Zone. A Neighbourhood zone will bring together all the
services involved in tackling crime and grime.
Work is likely to start in September this year and the whole complex
will open for business in January 2011.
Rob Hann, Director for Legal Services at consultants 4ps, said: “Today’s
announcement is excellent news for the people of Wigan. Joint service
centres play an important role in helping local people gain better
access to local services. 4ps have supported Wigan Council throughout
the development of the project enabling the council to secure the best
funding package possible for their Joint Service Centre. We would
encourage other local councils looking to embark on a joint service
centre to follow Wigan's example.”
-ends-
Notes to editors
1. For more information please contact Katherine Fairclough, Wigan
Council Service Director, Business Transformation tel 01942 827095 or
Carl Taylor, JSC Project Manager, 01942 488415.
2. Brief background:
PFI Bid for JSC submitted in March 2005
Announcement by government of Wigan’s successful bid Sept 2005
Originally £64.6 m PFI credits, increased to £67 m
Project Group formed by council to take bid forward
Outline Business Case submitted to government Oct 2006
Pre-Qualification of five bidders Apr 2007
Invitation to Submit Outline Solutions May 2007 reduces bidders to three
Invitation to Submit Detailed Solutions September 2007 reduces bidders
to two
3. Access Consortium includes Hochtief PPP solutions (Equity Partner and
Facilities Management Contractor) and Morgan Ashurst (Building
Contractor)
4. £67M of PFI Credits awarded.
Represents total PFI award of £131M over the twenty five year life of
the PFI.
plus contribution (incl receipts from asset sales of Council and
partners buildings) amounts to an overall scheme value of £187M
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