CONSTRUCTION firm Allenbuild has won a é12.8m contract to build a "green" hospital.

The é12.8m project for the North Wales NHS Trust will see the construction of an environmentally-friendly 30-bed community hospital with outpatient facilities, rehabilitation services and mental health team accommodation and support.

Porthmadog Community Hospital will feature a flat roof of low-growing plants that will help to reduce heat loss in winter and keep the building cool in summer.

The hospital's central winter garden will be covered with a plastic, tent-like structure that will keep in the heat, a dual-fuel biomass boiler will provide central heating and sensors will be used to control the lighting.

The surrounding areas have a high concentration of protected species and a special reptile fence has been erected around the site to prevent adders, newts and similar invertebrates getting into the building site.

The area has a natural slope and complex ground conditions, but the building has been designed to make maximum use of the existing levels with minimum visual impact to the landscape.

Allenbuild's regional managing director, Jeff Sawyer, said: "Many clients look at what a project costs to build, but not long maintenance and facilities management costs as well. We are delighted to bring our experience of constructing buildings in the health sector to deliver this very innovative and exciting scheme." Tweet