Burley-in-Wharfedale’s Grange Park Surgery is set to receive crucial support for an extension, thanks to the recent decision by the Bradford Council’s Executive. The funding opportunities, sourced from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), have been approved to address the increased demand for healthcare services in the area.
The CIL is primarily aimed at contributing to the financing of necessary infrastructure to facilitate the implementation of the Local Plan. This funding is derived from new property developments within the region.
Recognising the pressing need for additional facilities to cope with rising demand, the Grange Park Surgery in Burley in Wharfedale had submitted a funding request. In response, the Executive Committee has committed to allocating no more than £400,000 from the CIL to the surgery. The final confirmation of this allocation is expected to take place during the Executive Committee meeting scheduled for July 2024.
Due to the imminent collection of CIL payments from the residential development at Sun Lane and Ilkley Road, an agreement for this year cannot be reached. However, a funding arrangement will be finalised with Grange Park Surgery once the CIL payments for this particular development are received.
Currently serving a patient population of 6,900, a significant increase from the 4,500 patients it initially catered to when it first opened its doors in 1984, the Grange Park Surgery requires expanded facilities to address the growing demand for healthcare services. The current infrastructure is unable to adequately support the additional strain posed by the Sun Lane housing development, highlighting the urgency for an extension to meet the surging demand.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We are pleased to be able to reach an agreement with the practice to support their extension and help them meet the increased demand. The government’s funding formula for NHS expansion fails to provide this practice all the funding they need to grow so we’re pleased to be able to step in and plug the gap. The fact we have to do this underlines that while this CIL money goes some way to addressing the impacts of new housing developments, it falls well short of the funding needed to meet the infrastructure needs of the district.”
Louise Clarke, Director of Strategy and Transformation, for Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, said: “This investment is very much needed and this decision will help secure a purpose-built site that adapts to the changes expected in the local population. This is an example of how we can work in partnership to deliver services for our local communities fit for the future.”
The forthcoming extension to the Grange Park Surgery is a significant step towards ensuring that the healthcare needs of the growing population in Burley-in-Wharfedale are adequately met. With the support of Bradford Council, the surgery will be equipped to provide improved healthcare services and cater to the evolving demands of the community it serves.
