Avenue Centre developments on track for success

11.00.00am GMT Tue 13th Mar 2007

A range of measures agreed by Richmond Council's Cabinet this week will enable building to begin later this year on the Avenue Centre site.

The plans are for a new Resource Centre for People with Learning Disabilities (to replace the Avenue Centre), a new building for the Hampton Wick GP surgery and a small amount of residential development. In a linked development, the Council is in discussions with George Wimpey UK on a proposal to relocate the Garden Gang onto land next to the Avenue Centre owned by the company. The Cabinet received a comprehensive report on Monday, 12 March, that explained various difficulties that had arisen and recommended approaches to dealing with them. A team of experts will begin the process of preparing legal agreements for the GP surgery and the residential units. Work will also start on the detailed specification required for the building contract to develop the new Resource Centre and the other facilities. The Council will explore how users and carers will be consulted on the final designs. Demolition is expected to start by the end of this year and the building programme take 18 months to complete.

Cllr Denise Carr, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, said:

"The Cabinet this week took decisive action which will clear the way for a successful implementation of the scheme. This is excellent news. The Council is fully committed to delivering the new Resource Centre and to successfully relocating the Garden Gang. The Gang can remain on site until demolition starts, but work is in hand to secure a suitable alternative venue for this thriving business. Though the Council has kept in close contact with users and carers over recent months, this has been a worrying time. Now our plans are well progressed for a range of day activities at community locations which will open up greater opportunities for each user, and these will start next month when the Avenue Centre building closes."