Birketts has acted on behalf of Jesus College Oxford and Jesus College Development (Oxford) Limited in connection with an agreement with three GP Practices to build and let to the GPs a new state-of-the-art NHS primary care unit in part of the college’s new Northgate building in Oxford city centre.

Partner Dwight Patten (Property) led the Birketts’ team along with advice from Partner Stefan Harris-Wright (Construction), Senior Associate Steven Bell (Planning), Solicitors Georgina Mauger (Property) and Chelsey Bishop (Property) and Paralegal Hameeda Hussani (Construction).

The GP facility represents a victory for Oxford’s residents and Jesus College’s students. It will also further enhance the Northgate House project that will, when completed, provide the College with stunning new teaching facilities, indoor and outdoor convening spaces, a digital hub, postgraduate accommodation, a café and public exhibition space and retail space.

Commenting on the news, Birketts’ Dwight Patten said: “I am delighted to see agreement reached for this new long-term healthcare facility, especially one that will benefit so many patients.

This agreement was possible thanks to the efforts of our entire team – their experience in advising on higher education and NHS-focused developments ensured the suite of necessary documents was arranged as smoothly as possible. I look forward to seeing the College’s Northgate development coming to fruition and the benefits it will bring both to students and the local community.”

The new medical centre will be held on a 25-year lease with an option to renew for a further 25-year term and will see three practices move into one building on a collaborative basis, providing healthcare services to 20,000 patients in the city.  The centre will include twenty-seven consulting and treatment rooms as well as a minor operations suite and space for mental health workers and physiotherapists.

The contract structure, negotiated in collaboration with the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, ensures a sustainable funding model for the works and the surgery. The medical unit is expected to open in autumn 2021.

Jesus College Oxford Property Director, David Stevenson, added: “Birketts’ work, weaving together our priorities with the input from the CCG and three GPs surgeries, was invaluable. They not only secured the best outcomes for all parties but they also contributed to securing the provision of high standard primary medical care for thousands of patients for years to come. Jesus College always works towards delivering the best for its students and the people of Oxford, and I saw this same motivation from Dwight and the rest of the Birketts team.”