Newholme Health Centre

The Brief

The scheme for Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust in Bakewell provides in one building, essential health care services for the community alongside facilities for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS. We worked closely with the Trust and EMAS to define the brief, balancing their requirements through various options in orderr to establish a viable scheme for all. A modern, flexible, multiuse health centre has been created that is also sensitive to its strong heritage context.

The Design

Working alongside the Peak District National Park Authority Cultural Heritage Team, RCA extensively used the Peak Park Design Guide to shape the overall design. Particular emphasis was given to the traditional gable end form alongside references to historic features such as small parapet upstands to roofs and contemporary interpretations of window and quoin detailing.

We engaged with a specialist consultant to assist with the design and integration of a compliant, dedicated ‘Changing Places’ washroom; a facility for those with profound disabilities. To further enhance inclusivity, a fully accessible treatment room has been positioned at ground floor for patients who require direct access.

Daylight and the experience of the patients and staff was fundamental to the approach to the interior design and the choice of a muted paltette responds to the numerous framed views of the surroundiing countryside.

The Outcome

Architect Jacob Peplow said “Designing this facility has followed a very iterative process, uniting the sensitivities and heritage of the site with its practical, day-to-day usage. On the one hand, it needs to provide a calming, safe and reassuring space for patients and it equally needs to function as a place of work. Separate staff parking, entrances and delivery access points all help aid this distinction”.

The design concept focused on providing a building of real civic character, something modern, accessible, practical, yet sympathetic to its surroundings.

The building was completed in September 2024.