Work starts on new library and medical centre in Woodingdean

Work has started on the new Woodingdean library and medical centre in Warren Road.

The new premises are being built on the site of the old library which will close on Saturday 30 March.

The first phase of construction involves providing a temporary car park and library hut which will open in mid-April until the new building is completed.

The new library will be about twice as big as the current one with a computer suite, meeting room and out-of-hours entrance so the community can make the most of building.

The new medical centre will provide larger premises and better facilities for patients of Woodingdean Surgery, run by Dr Peter Sagar and Partners. The surgery is currently in The Ridgway.

Building work is expected to last about a year and the project is expected to cost about £1.6 million, with Brighton and Hove City Council spending £500,000 on the library.

Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the council’s culture committee, said: “It’s a proud moment for us to start building a combined new library and medical centre.

“The administration, ward councillors and the local community have worked hard to reach this point and, when complete, I am sure that the new facility will prove to be a lynchpin for Woodingdean.”

Jane Collins, the practice manager at Woodingdean Surgery, said: “We are looking forward to working with the library and for us this is a great opportunity to create spacious and modern premises at the heart of the community.

“The additional space would mean the practice would be able to offer more services to our patients under one roof.”