3D image of proposed Birr Primary Care Centre is released

This is a 3D image from BPI Investments, Portarlington, showing what the proposed Birr Primary Care Centre will look like when building work is complete.

placeholder image — This is a 3D image from BPI Investments, Portarlington, showing what the proposed Birr Primary Care Centre will look like when building work is complete.

A 3D image showing what the proposed Birr Primary Care Centre will look like when building work is complete, has been released by the developers BPI Investments, Portarlington.

On March 12 Offaly County Council granted planning permission to BPI Investments to proceed with the construction of the Centre.

The PCC will include a number of HSE facilities including consulting rooms, treatment areas, meeting rooms, offices and support spaces. It will also include a surgery space totalling 807 square metres for General Practitioners and a 138 square metre pharmacy, and two consulting rooms totalling 34 square metres.

It's expected that building work will start in June or July and will take 18 months to two years.

The Birr Primary Care Centre project was finally given the go ahead after a wait of nearly 13 years.

First proposed in September 2010 the initial plan was to locate the centre on the site of a former Rugby Field near Scurragh, but that idea fell through. A number of other possible sites were proposed until it was finally decided to build the Centre in the large field to the rear of the Outdoor Education Centre.

The news was welcomed by a number of local politicians.

Cllr Clare Claffey said it was very welcome news that the “long awaited primary care centre for Birr has just received planning permission from Offaly County Council. I hope that this good news will prompt the return of the MIDOC service to the town, a service which is very sorely missed.”

Cllr Claffey called on the HSE to ensure that the development of the site on Railway Road goes ahead without any further delay.

“I’m delighted with the news, but we need to ensure the rapid delivery of this vital service for the people of Birr.

“I'm looking forward to working with the HSE to also ensure that the MIDOC service, which was withdrawn from Birr before I was elected, is eventually returned to the town.

“I have a commitment in writing from management that there will be space in the new centre for a MIDOC service if (and when) it's restored.”

Deputy Barry Cowen also welcomed the news that “planning permission for a Primary Care Centre and ambulance base in Birr has been granted.

“The Centre located at Railway Road, Seffin, Birr will allow for services that are accessible and integrated and will include General Practitioner Service, Public Health, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dental, Mental Health Services, all of which are currently provided in different locations in the town.

"This progress represents an important step forward. The facility, when opened, will allow for a team of health professionals to work closely together to meet the needs of the people living in Birr and surrounding areas.

“A new ambulance service base will also be located on the site of the Primary Care Centre.

"I want to thank Cllr. Eamon Dooley and Cllr. Peter Ormond for their tireless efforts to date in getting this project over the line and I look forward to the project now moving to construction stage."

BPI Investments Limited wishes to create a three-storey structure on the greenfield site.