The contractor is starting on site in Dunstable this week on the job to bring together care professionals under one roof to deliver health and wellbeing for the local community.

The 6,375 square metre Hub will be four storeys and offer a wide range of services, including community mental health and children’s services.

The project’s scope also involves Willmott Dixon building 98 homes for residents over 55, offering a mixture of one and two bedroom apartments.

Willmott Dixon’s early involvement in the design saw its team of construction specialists work with health authorities to develop the service model and schedule of accommodation.

It was designed on the principles of cura – Willmott Dixon’s pre-designed integrated health and care hub concept.

The cura model has the flexibility to enable a bespoke internal layout with future adaptability to meet service changes.

The use of cura’s model meant that during the pandemic, Willmott Dixon worked with the customer on revising the internal layout to incorporate resilience against current and future pandemics.

Cllr Eugene Ghent, Executive Member for Housing & Assets at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “I’m delighted we have Willmott Dixon on board and can start work on this exciting development, which will provide much needed housing and a building for health and care services.

Chris Tredget, managing director at Willmott Dixon for London and the East said: “We’re delighted to be delivering this exciting new project, which will become a focal point for integrating a range of health and care services within the local community, together with the creation of 98 homes.

“We’re very much looking forward to getting on site and beginning construction.”