The builder’s office in Cobham will construct the combined facility in Surbiton under a LIFT arrangement for South West London Health Partnerships.

Work starts this month at the former Surbiton Hospital site where the community health facility for four local GP practices will be co-located with a two-form entry school called Lime Tree Primary.

Lime Tree Primary School will open in September 2012, offering 60 new reception places and 26 part-time nursery places, followed in early 2013 by the health centre.

The joint purpose facility is an innovative solution to the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames’ need to increase primary school space by leasing land owned by NHS Kingston, which is using the funds to build its new health centre.

Low carbon features include the health centre achieving BREEAM Excellent, backed by a large PV array and car charging points, while the school will have a green roof.

The two buildings will also share a combined energy centre to save on running costs, while the whole site is designed to encourage ‘green travel’ in line with GLA directives.