An agreement has been signed to build a new £5 million health centre and a lead contractor - from Gloucestershire - has been named.

Specialist Warrington-based development company Assura - itself valued at some £1,376.7 million - will lead the project, partnering with NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The brand new health centre in Cinderford will replace the town's existing health centre, which houses both Dockham Road Surgery and Forest Health Care, with a modern, purpose-built £5m facility which will be built on Valley Road.

Punchline can let you know that Gloucester Business Park-based building company Speller Metcalfe has been chosen as the lead contractor for the project, due to take an estimated 12 months and estimated for completion and opening is scheduled for summer 2020.

Jon Webb, senior development manager at Assura, said: "This project will be the first of its kind to put those with dementia at the centre of the planning and delivery process. We have strong ties with Dementia UK as they are our chosen charity, so we are delighted to be working on this development."

This development is part of wider plans to improve GP premises in the district and is not related, or dependent, on a future decision on the location of a new community hospital for the Forest of Dean.

A small event will be held in June 2019 to mark the start of construction, with a view to the new centre opening in the summer of 2020.

Dr Ingalill Sandys, GP at Dockham Road surgery said: "We are delighted and really excited that our plans for a contemporary, new health centre are moving forward.

"Our current premises no longer meet modern healthcare standards, and with a growing population, we desperately need a new health centre to ensure we can continue to provide high quality services for years to come."

Dr Deborah Lane GP at Forest Health Care said: "This is great news for our patients and staff. We have placed a real focus on ensuring that the building and staff can really support people living with dementia."

Helen Goodey, director of primary care at NHS Gloucestershire CCG, said: "This is really positive news. The new centre will enable doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to offer a broader range of services to patients than the existing facilities can support.

"It also promises to offer an attractive work environment for GPs and the practice teams and we are delighted that patients and staff will be able to benefit from facilities that are fit for modern healthcare."

Aspen Centre on Horton Road in Gloucester is also one of Assura buildings, serving almost 30,000 patients from the primary care centre which houses general practice, pharmacy, ophthalmology and various other services.