NHS Property Services and NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB have opened the modernised £1.3 m Ingol Healthcare Centre in Preston after several years of work, thanks to the help of Section 106 agreements.
The project received over £1.3 m in investment, with over £500,000 coming from developer contributions secured through the planning process at Preston City Council, and £730,000 from NHS Property Services (NHSPS). £240,000 was specifically allocated to energy improvements through NHSPS. The improved facilities are expected to service approximately an additional 35,000 patients. and a total of 5,300 new homes in North West Preston.
In addition to a full refurbishment of existing clinical rooms, the project has added seven new clinical rooms to increase capacity for GP services and convert the site into a Net Zero facility. NHSPS says the refurbishment ‘transformed underutilised areas into high-impact clinical environments’. The facility features new forms of insulation (cavity wall and loft insulation), a move to electric heating, and energy-efficient upgrades such as LED lighting, double-glazed windows, and solar PV panels. These measures will ensure long-term cost savings and reduced carbon emissions.
Ben Gammer, NHSPS Estate Strategy lead, said: “This project is a standout example of how smart space optimisation can directly support the goals of the NHS’s 10 Year Health Plan.
By transforming underutilised areas into high-impact clinical environments, we’re not only increasing capacity, but also reinforcing our commitment to delivering accessible, quality care in every neighbourhood. It’s a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and sustainable design.”
NHSPS and the ICB’s Strategic Estates and Infrastructure Team played a central role in the project – handling everything from the initial Section 106 bid, and negotiations with GPs and other delivery partners, to design and tender phases, to legal agreements and project management.
Deputy Mayor of Preston, Councillor Nweeda Khan, said: “The improvements at the centre have been made possible by what is known as Section 106 agreements in relation to various planning applications made to Preston City Council. Section 106 agreements, also known as planning obligations or developer contributions, are legal agreements between a local planning authority and a developer.”
