Plans for a new health and social care facility in the Dargavel area took a further step forward this week as the planning application was approved by Renfrewshire Council. Once operational, the new facility will provide additional capacity for the existing GP Practice and Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to address the needs of local communities over coming years.

The new facility has been designed to accommodate projections of future population growth for the area. This has been tested against the most recent, independent projection of local population growth, which includes changes to the original planned house numbers in the area. Together with the existing Health Centre in Bishopton, which was refurbished in 2022 to add to its capacity, these two facilities will make best use of the primary care estate within the local area.

This is a significant milestone for the project, which will now enter the next phase of its development. A more comprehensive timeline is being developed, which will be refined once technical details and building warrants have been agreed - but it is currently projected that construction of the new facility will begin in Spring 2024.

Commenting, MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don, said:

“I very much welcome this positive development towards an exciting new Health and Social Care Facility in Dargavel.

“The centre has been designed to accommodate the current projected population increase in the area, with flexibility built in so that it can be further extended if required.

“Residents can keep up with updates on the progress on the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership website: https://www.renfrewshire.hscp.scot/article/12956/Bishopton-and-Dargavel---Public-Information-Hub”.