Premises
General practice continues to face significant demand pressures, driven by increasing patient need, an ageing population, workforce growth, and the ongoing shift towards neighbourhood-based models of care. At the same time, practices are being asked to deliver more integrated and multidisciplinary services, often from premises that were not designed to accommodate modern ways of working.
The expansion of multidisciplinary teams, including those funded through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), alongside the development of neighbourhood health services, has increased pressure on capacity within existing primary care estates. In many areas, practices and primary care networks (PCNs) are exploring how they can make better use of their existing buildings, create additional clinical capacity, support collaborative working and ensure premises remain fit for the future.
While investment opportunities continue to emerge through a range of national and local initiatives, securing funding and delivering estate improvements can be complex.
PCC can support practices and PCNs with a wide range of premises and estate matters, including:
- Understanding and applying the Premises Costs Directions (2024).
- Premises utilisation and optimisation reviews
- Estate planning to support neighbourhood health and multidisciplinary teams
- Business case development and project initiation documents (PIDs)
- GP partner retirement planning and succession considerations
- GP-owned premises strategy and ownership transitions
- Co-location and hub-based service models
- Sustainability and net zero estate planning
- Strategic estate planning aligned to local population needs and service transformation objectives
Our team combines practical expertise in GP premises, commissioning, estates strategy and the regulatory framework, helping organisations navigate complex decisions with confidence.
To discuss how PCC can support your organisation, please contact enquiries@pcc-cic.org.uk.
You can explore a selection of our premises and estates support services below.
Virtual workshop
Primary care estates – project initiation document (PID) writing training
The new premises costs directions (2024) have specifically set out the requirement for the production of a PID when submitting applications to the ICB.
One to one support is also available – contact enquiries@pcc-cic.org.uk
One to one support
Making the most of your space – practice optimisation review
Let our independent team of experts help you with a whole practice review of room usage and space utilisation to see if your practice premises is being used in the most effective way.
New Premises Costs Directions
The long-awaited National Health Service (General Medical Services Premises Costs) Directions 2024 came into force on 10 May 2024. The new directions supersede all previous versions of the directions and set out how payments should be calculated and made to general practice contractors in respect of premises costs. PCC has summarised the main changes.
Funding for GP premises 2025
In the autumn budget the government announced specific funding of £102 million aimed at modernising facilities and improving the premises of GP practices across England. In this article Helen Simmonds, PCC’s workstream lead for premises sets out the steps in the process.
Are you receiving the appropriate notional rent reimbursement?
This article, from BW Healthcare Surveyors, offers top tips for GP practices to review the current utilisation of their premises to ensure they are receiving the appropriate notional rent reimbursement.
Developing the Project Initiation Document (PID) for the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund
Practices are required to produce a PID to support their application for premises development through the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund (UMF). This is a really important step for practices. A well-prepared PID provides a clear roadmap for project execution and should demonstrate that the project is feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with the strategic priorities. PCC’s article provides top tips on developing your PID.
Preparing for neighbourhood health centres
The NHS’s 10 Year Health Plan sets out a bold vision to reshape care delivery through the creation of neighbourhood health centres. This transformation has major implications for premises strategy, capital investment, and estate planning across the health system. Read more.
