Planners signal go-ahead for charity's 'Big Build'

A NORTH-EAST children’s charity has secured planning permission for its Charlie House Specialist Support Centre.

The centre, which will support babies, children and young people with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions, will be built in the grounds of Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen.

The vision is for a state-of-the-art eight-bedroom centre, with additional family accommodation, set in four acres of ground.

The building will feature a sensory room, library, spa pool, craft room, teen den, soft play area, therapy room, star room for end-of-life care and bereavement, an outdoor play area and sensory gardens. It will include adaptable meeting space and office space for the Charlie House team and medical staff.

The build will be the first of its kind in the north-east. Families are currently forced to travel to Kinross to access planned and emergency short breaks, palliative and end-of-life care.

There are more than 1,800 babies, children and young people in the north-east requiring specialist support.

The charity launched its Big Build Appeal in November 2018 and to date has raised £2.4 million of its £8 million target. The planners nod will now allow the charity to apply for additional grant funding.

Tracy Johnstone, chair of Charlie House, said: "This is an incredible day for the charity and the team. We are so passionate about bringing this centre to the city and today we came a huge step closer.

"The state-of-the-art specialist support centre will be the first of its kind in the region to offer these support services to the people of the north-east of Scotland, encompassing the Aberdeen City and Shire, Moray, Orkney and Shetland."

Professor Nick Fluck, medical director at NHS Grampian, said: "There are many children and young people in the north-east of Scotland requiring specialist support. This facility will offer them the option of local support and specialist care."

David MacDonald, from Cumming & Co, the project architects, said: "We are delighted to support Charlie House with this inspiring project. We are looking forward to watching the build unfold and this remarkable vision come to life."

To find out more about the Big Build Appeal visit http://www.charliehouse.org.uk/big-build-appeal/.

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