Commemorative foundation stones taken from the original St Andrew’s Church in Basingstoke, which was built in 1955, have been re-laid in a new medical centre under construction at the site on Paddock Road.
The £3.2 million project, located in the South Ham area of Basingstoke, also includes a dental practice and pharmacy, all next door to a new Methodist church with meeting rooms. With Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cooperation, Leadbitter re-laid the historic stones, incorporating them into the structure of the new doctors’ surgery.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, Cllr Ranil Jayawardena, witnessed the stones being re-laid alongside new foundation stones to mark the history of the site.
Leadbitter has been working closely with the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council,
Primary Care Trust, local doctors and local residents to create a 21st century community facility, which will replace the out-dated and cramped surgery and its satellite surgery in Hatch Warren.
Cllr Jayawardena said: “It seems fitting that we are marking the history of this site to create 21st century facilities for local people. This project will make a real difference and demonstrates our continued commitment to communities across the borough of
Basingstoke and Deane. By investing this money, we will also be making good use of our assets to help keep council tax low for all our residents.”
David Cook, Regional Director of Leadbitter’s Southern Construction and Housing division, said: “We are pleased that we could work with Basingstoke and Deane Borough
Council to mark the excellent progress of this project with these historic foundation stones. We are sure that the new facilities at St Andrew’s will meet all of the requirements of both the church and the local community for a long time to come.”
