Eastergate Medical Centre
- Eastergate, West Sussex
Eastergate Medical Centre, formerly known as The Croft Surgery, represents the culmination of a 19-year primary care development journey. Officially opened on 26th August 2025, the new purpose-built facility provides modern, flexible accommodation designed to meet the long-term healthcare needs of the local community.
19 Years
Development Journey
August 2025
Completion Date
A 19-Year Primary Care Development Journey
Project Overview
The story of Eastergate Medical Centre began in 2006, when the GP partners at The Croft Surgery purchased land adjacent to the existing practice with the intention of developing new premises themselves.
As time passed and original partners moved toward retirement, it became clear that a different delivery model was needed to bring the scheme forward. A dedicated healthcare property developer, PHP Primary Health Properties, was appointed to acquire the site and take responsibility for delivering the project.
Despite changes in leadership and shifting market conditions over nearly two decades, the vision remained constant: to deliver a fit-for-purpose, future-proof primary care facility that could support a growing patient list and evolving models of care. The completed building now provides high-quality clinical and administrative space, designed around patient experience and operational efficiency.
Key Services
- Developer: PHP Primary Health Properties
- Location: Eastergate, West Sussex
- Project Type: New-build primary care facility
- Completion: August 2025
Key Challenges in the Development
Changing GP Partnerships
Over such an extended timeframe, the GP partnership structure changed significantly. With original partners retiring, new arrangements were required to ensure continuity, protect the practice’s long-term interests, and maintain commitment to the development. This demanded careful negotiation of new agreements and governance structures.
Timeframe and Market Conditions
Spanning 19 years, the project had to navigate multiple shifts in the financial, regulatory, and healthcare commissioning landscape. Ensuring that the scheme remained deliverable and financially sustainable required ongoing review, renegotiation, and expert guidance at key stages.
Specialist Property Considerations
As with many primary care schemes, the project involved balancing several competing priorities:
- The aspirations and operational needs of the practice
- NHS requirements and specifications
- The commercial objectives of the healthcare developer
Our Role – Primary Care Surveyors
Primary Care Surveyors (PCS) played a pivotal role in facilitating and de-risking this long-running development, enabling the project to progress despite its complexity and lengthy gestation. Our involvement included:
Land acquisition advice, including negotiation of restrictive covenants and overage payments
Advice on funding and lease structures to support long-term viability for the practice
Strategic guidance to align the interests of GPs, the developer, and NHS stakeholders
Agreement of the detailed specification for the new medical centre to ensure it met clinical, operational, and compliance requirements
Monitoring of the construction process through to practical completion, ensuring that the agreed standards, specification, and programme were delivered
By combining deep sector knowledge with practical, client-focused advice, PCS helped keep the scheme on track and ensured that the new facility could finally be realised.
Outcome
The completion of Eastergate Medical Centre marks a significant achievement for all parties involved. Patients now benefit from a modern healthcare environment designed to support the growing demands on primary care, while the practice has premises that can adapt to future needs.
After 19 years, the project is a reminder of the complexities and persistence often required in healthcare property development — and the long-term value these facilities bring to their communities.
Conclusion
The Eastergate Medical Centre development demonstrates the resilience needed to deliver essential healthcare infrastructure in today’s property landscape. With changing partnerships, shifting financial conditions, and nearly two decades of planning, the project underscores both the challenges and the rewards of investing in primary care property.
For Primary Care Surveyors, it stands as a testament to the importance of specialist advice, long-term commitment, and the impact that well-delivered property projects can have on local healthcare provision.
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