The Council collaborated with the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) framework to procure Forrest for the project and it is the first contract Forrest has won on the back of the medium value NWCH framework.
Lime Court – which will be renamed The Lime after the work is complete – is a day centre for vulnerable adults and the renovation will see the installation of a brand new hydrotherapy pool, internet café and performance space.
It is part of the council's £4.8 million 'Transformation' plan for day care services, which is seeing six Health and Wellbeing ‘hubs’ created to provide help and support for people.
'The Lime' will be one of three centres across the city open 12 hours a day, seven days a week - providing intensive health and social care support for people with complex needs as well as placements for people coming out of care.
-- Advertisement --
The hydrotherapy pool will also be used by different organisations, and the council will be working to identify individuals who could benefit, such as injured service personnel undergoing rehabilitation.
The Preston-headquartered contractor will also donate and install a set of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to the centre through its environmental division, Forrest Green.
Lee McCarren, chief executive officer at Forrest, said: "This project exemplifies the type of high quality regeneration work we are renowned for.
"Community centres such as The Lime can make a huge difference to the lives of local people so it’s a hugely rewarding scheme to be involved with."
Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for adult social care and health, Councillor Roz Gladden, said: "This is going to be an absolutely fantastic facility offering state-of-the-art support and care for not only people who use day services but also their families and local residents.
"This is a significant investment in a new kind of care facility which is completely changing the way in which we deliver services.
"We are moving to a system where we are focused on meeting people’s individual needs, rather than having to choose from a fixed menu of social care services."
The new-look centre will also give advice on employment and housing and serve as a place for people to meet and hold events.
Discussions have also taken place about using the café to train people who use the centre in hospitality skills.
Work is due to get underway on the site during the summer, with completion in early 2013.
