Guildhouse has signed a 20-year partnering agreement with the North Norfolk, West Norfolk and Southern Norfolk Primary Trusts (now incorporated into the single Norfolk PCT). This is the first LIFT scheme in eastern England to begin work and £40 million will be spent over the next seven years in improving and extending the county's Primary Healthcare infrastructure. The Company set up to administer the partnering agreement is NorLife and Lord Sawyer of Darlington is the Non-Executive Chairman.

'During the process of closing the Norfolk Lift project Guildhouse consistently displayed a willingness to seek common ground with the public sector. While working closely to agree timescales they took care to ensure that all decisions were agreed on a mutual basis and contributed a great deal to making Norfolk Lift an example of best practise in building public private partnerships.'
Partnerships for Health

In a survey conducted by CABE of 82 LIFT projects completed between 2002 and 2006, one of the Norfolk LIFT projects was singled out as representing a benchmark for quality. According to Mairi Johnson, CABE's interim director of enabling, 'Great schemes such as ... the Plowright Surgery in Norfolk show the kind of quality we want to see routinely.'

Corah Carney, Community Development Manager from Guildhouse Group has undertaken one year staff and patient satisfaction surveys with users of Norfolk LIFT buildings. This is part of the commitment by Guildhouse to provide high satisfaction levels for those working or visiting their buildings. Corah has a background in the NHS and community development. She has undertaken previous satisfaction surveys in a variety of healthcare and community settings.

Comments include

• 'The calm atmosphere is soothing and the light and airy feel raises your spirits'
• 'It is comfortable, uncrowded and I usually encounter a friend'
• 'I am not filled with dread when I go to the Surgery now'
• 'It gives me hope'
• 'I feel very comfortable and safe in my place of work'
• 'A much nicer building to work in than previously and my personal workspace has very positive natural light'
• 'I feel more comfortable and have been getting on with work better as everything is new'
• 'I enjoy coming to work. Patients and staff seem happy too'
• 'It is a calm, relaxed spacious environment to work in'

'Guildhouse impressed us with their teamwork, with their originality and creativity in working up designs, but most of all with their flexibility of approach. This was exemplified when a user group rejected their initial proposal for a new GP surgery. By the time of the next meeting, a completely new design was put forward, incorporating all the users' comments.'
Graham Copsey - Norfolk LIFT Director

NorLife projects include:

'One Stop' Centre, Thetford
Development cost £6m
Initial equity investment by Guildhouse £300K
Completed in December 2006
Maintenance services provided by Accuro

Surgery & Health Centre, Swaffham
Development cost £2m
Completed & operational since April 2005
Maintenance services provided by Accuro
Used as an exemplar LIFT scheme by both CABE and PfH

Surgery & Health Centre, Sheringham
Development cost £2m
Completed & operational since July 2005
Maintenance services provided by Accuro

Surgery & Health Centre, Terrington St Clement, Kings Lynn
Development cost £2m
Due to start on site in summer 2007
Maintenance services provided by Accuro

Strategic Cases
Location: Dereham, Downham Market, North Walsham
Strategic Cases being prepared for anticipated start in 2007

Mixed Use Scheme, Kings Lynn
Appointed Preferred Developer by English Partnerships to develop an integrated scheme on a 15 acre site including
health centre, primary school, community facilities, social housing, housing for sale, small retail units & leisure facilities
Total anticipated construction cost £30m

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