Construction of the new Blackburn Partnership Centre will start in the next few weeks after the final contract was agreed.

The new £8.2 million building, which will be built next to the Mill Centre in Blackburn, will include health and council services as well as community services for local residents.

The Centre is being developed in partnership with West Lothian Council and NHS Lothian and services will include a GP practice, dentist, community centre (including sports hall and multi-purpose spaces), library, Customer Information Service (CIS) centre, employability service, community health centre, IT training suite, early years space, young people’s space and a credit union.

Hub South East Scotland is delivering the project and has appointed Graham Construction to build the new centre.

Paul McGirk, Hub South East Scotland’s chief executive, said: “It’s exciting to reach this key milestone in the project and have everything in place to start building this new modern partnership centre for the Blackburn community.

“We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with NHS Lothian and West Lothian Council, ensuring that the local community benefits during the construction period, through opportunities such as new jobs, work placements and training.”

Jim Forrest, chief officer, West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “I’m delighted that work on the new Partnership Centre will soon start. This project will deliver a health and care hub for the people of Blackburn, in the heart of Blackburn.

“The Centre will enable improved integration and connectivity of staff and services and, in so doing, will put the health and welfare of Blackburn residents at the forefront of our services.”

Due to open to the public in late 2017, the Blackburn Partnership Centre is being delivered by NHS Lothian as part of a £27.6m programme of works which includes the £12.1m North West Edinburgh (Muirhouse) Partnership Centre and £7.3m Firrhill Partnership Centre in Edinburgh.

Works will also start at North West Edinburgh and Firrhill in the next few weeks.