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Project Name: |
Bryson Street Surgery |
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Zone: |
Belfast East |
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Category: |
Capital |
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Social Investment Fund Outcome: |
Increasing Community Services/Addressing Dereliction |
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Status: |
Operational – Construction Complete |
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Funding awarded: |
£1,000,000 |
About the Project
The original Bryson Street GP Surgery was located on Bryson Street for a number of generations, serving all sections of the community with its unique location on the corner of Bryson Street and the Newtownards Road, rendering it easily accessible to both communities. The surgery operated throughout the Conflict/Troubles with the building deteriorating significantly in the last decade. Due to the poor condition of their previous facilities, the doctors temporarily relocated to East Belfast Enterprise’s City East building. This relocation, while satisfactory on a short term basis was no longer considered easily accessible by both sides of the community and the original premises created a derelict site, clearly visible on the Newtownards Road.
The new facility, known as ‘Bridges Family Practice’, has ensured the continued provision of a vital community health surgery and accessibility to a wide range of increased health services promoting meaningful community cohesion through use of shared space in a central location.
The benefits of this modern and well equipped medical centre will reach right across local communities and contribute to achieving a number of Social Investment Fund objectives, including addressing dereliction and tackling the systemic issues linked to deprivation, particularly health issues. This local facility is an important part of the local landscape and history in the SIF Belfast East zone, and as a direct result of the major investment from SIF, and redevelopment, will be an important part of its shared future serving local communities for years to come.
The site owners Landmark East also contributed £200,000 towards the renovation.
Progress to date
This project has completed construction and is operational. SIF funding has delivered a much needed modern medical facility delivering a suite of key community health and wellbeing services to all residents in the Belfast East Zone. The new surgery is located in proximity to the Eastside Visitors Centre, Short Strand Community Centre and Templemore Avenue, which were also SIF projects, and this has helped to ensure that this building is fully integrated into the overall community development and regeneration infrastructure and maximise the benefits to everyone in the local communities
Impacts
Monitoring and evaluation of all Social Investment Fund projects is carried out using “Outcomes Based Accountability” (OBA). Where SIF has funded capital works, the project provides quarterly “post-capital” data for a period of 3 years which details the positive impacts enabled by the capital works undertaken. The Bryson Street Doctors Surgery project has completed its 3 years of post-capital monitoring. Below are the final capital and post capital infographics which highlight the key impacts of the project.
