22 April 2025: A Walton NHS Neighbourhood Hub can ensure equal access to high-quality care for all - Elmbridge Cabinet to decide on Elm Grove development.
On 30 April, the Elmbridge Cabinet will decide on the proposal to create a new NHS Neighbourhood Hub at the Elm Grove site in Walton-on-Thames. This development aims to ensure all residents have access to high-quality healthcare services close to home.
Walton Neighbourhood Hub
Our NHS partners, North-West Surrey Alliance, are committed to the wellbeing and wellness of the local community. Their ambition is to provide high quality healthcare services for the local population, reduce unnecessary hospital visits and enhance patient experience.
The aim of the Neighbourhood Hub is to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities and tackle health inequalities by creating multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). These teams will include GPs and other primary care professionals, hospital clinicians, social care professionals, and domiciliary and care staff working together, as one team, to work more efficiently with healthier outcomes for the local community.
As a modern, purpose-built space, this NHS Neighbourhood Hub development on the Elm Grove site offers a blueprint to deliver a first-class health infrastructure which will offer integrated health services, providing care closer to home, tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes for residents in Walton-on-Thames and the surrounding area.
In Elmbridge, Walton-on-Thames has some of the highest levels of need. While the average life expectancy in Walton is 83.3 years and 84.9 years in North West Surrey, it drops significantly to 78.6 years for men in the southern part of Walton. This is a stark contrast to the 87.6 years in Oxshott and Stoke D’Abernon. The Neighbourhood Hub approach to community care aims to bridge this gap by ensuring all residents have equal access to health and support services close to home, ultimately helping everyone live longer, healthier lives.
Image: Proposed Walton Neighbourhood Hub
The development of the site will enable the relocation of all health services from the current health centre and community hospital site at Rodney Road in Walton, into one purpose-built, modern facility. The Neighbourhood Hub will allow the existing 13 services to be significantly expanded, operating in specially designed patient care facilities with the latest technology. For instance, the current 19 GP practice rooms will be increased to 26. Additionally, there are at least seven more planned services that will benefit the local community, including complex wound care, specialist nursing support for heart failure, community mental health, talking therapies for anxiety and depression, maternity services, and outpatient and ultrasound services.
A further benefit of the new building is that it will facilitate a seven-day service.
Resident engagement
As part of the considerations, Elmbridge Cabinet will be asked to review the outcome of engagement with residents from the end of 2024.
During our engagement through November and December 2024, which included a survey and in-person sessions, we gathered feedback from around 500 residents on the Elm Grove proposals to,
- develop part of Elm Grove for a new NHS neighbourhood Health Hub or housing, including affordable homes, and to
- redevelop the site to improve Elm Grove recreation ground with enhanced play areas and more trees to help alleviate flooding.
Residents’ responses covered green spaces and play areas, housing, the NHS neighbourhood Health Hub and Walton Bowling Club.
- There was a strong community desire to enhance Elm Grove Recreation Ground, while preserving its green space, ensuring it remains a safe and enjoyable area for all.
- The issue of additional homes on Elm Grove got strong views, with opposition to additional housing in Walton, plus concerns about the oversupply of flats.
- Overall, there were divided views on the proposal to move medical services to Elm Grove. There were concerns about parking and existing facilities, with support expressed for the idea of a Health Hub to benefit the wider community.
- As part of the Elm Grove site, we are talking to Walton Bowling Club about their future plans. We are committed to supporting them as best we can.
- Survey responses showed the value bowling brings to some residents with its health and social benefits. A number of respondents were opposed to the relocation of Walton Bowling Club due to its long-standing presence at Elm Grove.
A more detailed report on the engagement is available.
The way forward for Elm Grove
With this information, Elmbridge Cabinet will discuss an extraordinary opportunity to support improving health outcomes for Walton residents by selling land on the Elm Grove site to the NHS development partner. Subject to planning permission, Cabinet approval will enable the Neighbourhood Health Hub to be built.
The Neighbourhood Hub would centralise essential services, supporting community health needs and reduce pressure on local hospitals. Designed for future growth, the Neighbourhood Hub would offer flexible, sustainable facilities to benefit the community.
However, while the benefits of a Neighbourhood Hub are significant, we also appreciate the passion and strength of feeling associated with Walton Bowling Club and the wellbeing value bowling brings to our residents.
Elmbridge is fortunate to have a variety of active bowls clubs in the borough. We will continue our discussions with Walton Bowling Club about their future plans and support them as best we can. This support includes a commitment to reasonable financial assistance for a merger or to improve bowls facilities in the borough.
Our proposal is to enable a new Neighbourhood Hub at Elm Grove in Walton-on-Thames. As described, the proposed new Neighbourhood Hub development offers a unique chance to develop a modern, purpose built, integrated service that will support residents and improve healthcare for the local population. It will provide a modern, integrated Health Hub while preserving green spaces and enhancing the much-valued Elm Grove recreation ground, ensuring it remains a vibrant and valuable space for everyone to enjoy.
Cllr Simon Waugh, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Deputy Leader, Elmbridge Borough Council
The agenda for the Cabinet meeting is available.
Watch the Cabinet meeting on 30 April at 4pm
17 April 2025
Due to scheduling, the Cabinet meeting will now be held on 30 April at 4pm.
18 March 2025
We are aware of inaccurate information circulating regarding the development of Elm Grove in Walton-on-Thames. When incorrect information circulates it creates unnecessary worry and we apologise for that.
Included in this information is the assertion that on site tenants such as the Elmbridge Eco Hub are being forced to leave their current location. In the case of the Eco Hub, the team is positive and optimistic about their move to Coronation Recreation Ground in Hersham. This new location is giving them a permanent home, allowing them to enhance their services and increase their positive impact on our community.
The potential development of Elm Grove will be discussed at the Elmbridge Cabinet meeting on 24 April (which will be webcast). At that meeting Cabinet members will discuss the options for the site in the context of the business case presented and the results of the residents’ consultation from November / December 2024.
All information about Elm Grove is on the council’s website. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council have also been hosting events around Elmbridge in recent weeks, including in Walton, discussing Elm Grove (among other topics) and answering any questions from residents.
If the answer to your query on Elm Grove is missing from the website, please email communications@elmbridge.gov.uk and we will ensure it is added.
11 March 2025
Elm Grove will no longer be on the agenda for the Elmbridge Cabinet meeting in March. In order to work through the full details and information needed with our NHS partners and on site tenants, we will defer the report until a special Cabinet meeting in April. The results of the consultation will be published with the reports for the special Cabinet meeting on 24 April.
December 2024
The Shaping Elm Grove engagement is live from Monday 18 November until midnight on 18 December 2024
- Drop-in session 1: 26 November, 11:30am-1:30pm, the reception area of Case House, 85-89 High Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 1DZ.
- Drop-in session 2: 3 December, 4:30-6:30pm, the Xcel Leisure Complex, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2JG
After considering your feedback and adopting the Development Brief for Elm Grove in Walton-on-Thames, we would like to hear your comments on our emerging proposals for Elm Grove. Your thoughts and opinions are valuable to us, and we invite you to share any further views you may have about this site.
Elmbridge Borough Council is seeking to develop part of the Elm Grove site for either a new NHS neighbourhood Health Hub or for housing, including affordable homes.
Redevelopment of the site will facilitate improvements to Elm Grove recreation ground, including play area enhancements and more trees to help alleviate flooding on site.
Enhancing health and wellbeing with a new neighbourhood Health Hub
Collaboratively, Elmbridge Borough Council and your local NHS are aiming to transform the delivery of health and care services. Together, we can bring a range of essential services into one convenient location for the community.
The focus is to support people in their own communities ensuring they can access the right service at the right time.
The Elm Grove site is ideally positioned for this and will allow expansion of both primary care, community health and wellbeing and care services. It will support the population health needs now and as the community grows.
The site offers a unique opportunity for a broad mix of professionals from health, care, voluntary and community sectors to work together. Being in one place, teams can share expertise, reduce duplication, and focus efforts on the needs of the people of Walton-on-Thames.
- Bring services together
A new Health Hub at Elm Grove would offer integrated services, benefiting the local community with a modern, purpose-built space for GPs to deliver care. Health, care and wellbeing teams can work together supporting people to take control of their own health and working with individuals on what is important to them. Health Hubs allow people to see the right person at the right time, in their community and deliver consistency in care.
- From hospital to the community
Health Hubs provide a variety of services right in your community, including basic medical care, diagnostic tests, and even some minor surgeries. They offer comprehensive care close to home, which means fewer trips to the hospital and less strain on hospital resources, benefiting everyone.
- Future proofing
As our population grows, Health Hubs are ready to meet the evolving health needs of everyone. They are cost-effective, reducing daily expenses so more funds can be reinvested into community health and wellbeing. Built with modern, sustainable practices, these hubs support the NHS’s net-zero goals. Their flexible design allows rooms to adapt to the changing needs of patients and new healthcare methods.
Local health practitioners and community providers are collaborating with Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership to shape these exciting plans.
The options for Elm Grove
We understand the importance of Elm Grove to our community. The decision on whether to develop homes or a Health Hub will depend on the available space.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate a neighbourhood Health Hub or an optimum number of homes on the site, if Walton Bowling Club and the Eco Hub remain in situ.
- We have been in discussions with the team at the Eco Hub about possible relocation for some time now. We are confident that together, we can find them a permanent home that meets their needs and allows them to continue contributing positively to our community.
- For Walton-on-Thames Bowling Club, we are continuing to talk to them about their future plans and we are committed to supporting them as best we can.
- Surrey County Council’s Youth Centre and the Walton Montessori nursery are not impacted.
Your views matter
In this latest community engagement on Elm Grove, we are asking your views on the possible development of the site including the value you would place on a new neighbourhood health hub for Walton.
We have an online survey available to capture your views but as always if you would like this in another format please email: communications@elmbridge.gov.uk.
We will also be available for the below in-person sessions, where you can hear more about the possible neighbourhood health hub and understand more about the options of the site.
- Drop-in session 1:
26 November, 11:30am-1:30pm, the reception area of Case House,85-89 High Street, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 1DZ.
- Drop-in session 2:
3 December, 4:30-6:30pm, the Xcel Leisure Complex, Waterside Drive, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2JG
The views captured during this engagement will be reported to Elmbridge Cabinet as part of an options report in the new year.
Many thanks for your contributions, and we look forward to seeing you at our drop-in sessions – no booking needed.
Cllr Simon Waugh,
Deputy Leader, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Commercial Strategy
More information on Shaping Elm Grove
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