Cober Valley Health shortlisted for design award

We’re pleased the Cober Valley Health project has been shortlisted for the Design for adaptation and transformation category for the European Healthcare Design awards. The award category celebrates projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to refurbishment, repurposing, expansion and reconfiguration, delivering renewed value from existing assets while improving quality, efficiency and user experience.

MJ Medical has been designing healthcare spaces for 35 years. Cober Valley Health and the wider Helston Gateway initiative stands out among the hundreds of projects we’ve seen. This inspired retrofit shows what is possible across the UK. Through the innovative re-use of redundant buildings and by working together locally, we can create health and wellness hubs that not only increase access to healthcare but enhance the wellbeing of communities and meet the Government’s NetZero targets.

David Turnbull, CEO at South Kerrier CIC, and his team delivered this hugely ambitious and transformative project despite unrelenting funding setbacks. David’s steadfast determination and brilliance is truly admirable.

This exceptional project has transformed the town of Helston. It has taken a dilapidated, derelict eye-sore of a building, a setting for anti-social behaviour, and replaced it with a beautiful, thriving community building that is financially sustainable and can grow with its population. It has increased individuals access to healthcare.

With the principal developer John Kearsley’s vision and our clinical expertise, we designed a GP practice that stands apart from the usual NHS facility. Patients and staff appreciate the natural light, considered interiors and generous space. The health centre provides community rooms where choirs antenatal groups and exercise classes meet weekly. These spaces can be adapted to vaccination clinics when required.

Alongside the GP practice stands Tide, a climbing wall and café, and the Basement, a youth centre. In a town facing social decline, these spaces provide opportunities for families to be active and where young people can socialise constructively.

European Healthcare Design announces the winners in a couple of weeks’ time. However, we feel the community of Helston has already won.