Work Starts on £7m Bentley Primary Care Build

Work is now underway on the £7m Bentley Primary Care new build, which will bring together two existing GP practices: Don Valley Healthcare and The Ransome Practice.

"A new state-of-the-art primary care centre will ensure our communities are serviced by the best possible efficient healthcare which meets their needs."

Anthony Fitzgerald, NHS South Yorkshire's executive place director for Doncaster

The former Bentley Community Library has been demolished to make way on the site for the new primary care centre. Funding for the building has been provided by NHS England, with the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board due to fund it after construction is completed in spring 2026. The three-storey 1,215 sqm centre will be BREEAM Excellent.

The compact and efficient building will provide much needed modern and compliant healthcare space for the local community, whilst also future proofing the service to meet GP and staff needs. The centre brings together two local GP practices who will share the building to provide a more holistic approach to primary care. The building presents a civic frontage to Chapel Street, with clear wayfinding and open and transparent views to the outside, supporting the wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.

By organising the welcoming point at the front of the building, all the clinical and support functions are nearby and accessible to the rear of a shared reception. The planning logic of sharing clinical support space is central to the way in which the GP’s will work, avoiding unnecessary duplication of stores, clean and dirty utilities and staff toilets. Each practice will retain their own identity through colour, and subtle wayfinding signage to align with thoughtfully designed interior.

Public areas provide positive distractions, featuring abundant natural light and strong connections to the outdoors. Waiting spaces are comfortable and convenient, with thoughtful touches such as a historical artifact display and a discreet toilet core, including a Changing Places facility.

The building has been designed with an appropriate level of standardisation to ensure flexibility for adapting to future needs. As clinical services continue to evolve rapidly, considerations of growth and change are essential to delivering long-term value.

The architecture is restrained and thoughtfully considered, with careful attention to general arrangement and proportions. Materials have been deliberately chosen, presenting a simple palette of red brick and white aluminium that gives the building a distinctive identity. Features such as the splayed windows draw the eye and create subtle layering within the brickwork. The structural grid is expressed on the front façade, incorporating large full-height windows to guide visitors toward the main entrance. Situated on the former library site, long deprived of investment, the building is set to act as a catalyst for regeneration, becoming a source of pride for the local community and its users.

This is a very positive milestone and progression towards changing healthcare in Bentley. It is a prestigious development, providing another great community facility which will no doubt contribute to local regeneration, whilst also integrating much improved primary care under one roof.