Proposal could lead to new Norwich Medical Centre

Luke Edwards, Post Correspondent

Norwich Township staff and councillors are receptive to a proposal from the Netherlands Reformed Congregation that would lead to a new, larger medical centre at a fraction of the cost to taxpayers.

The congregation has pitched a plan that would see a swap of properties where Norwich would give up the property that is currently home to the medical centre, swapping for another parcel where a two-storey, 16,000-square-foot medical centre would be built. Councillors at the Sept. 8 meeting voted to approve the plan in principle, though a final decision isn’t expected until early next year.

“I think this is an exciting project that could definitely help the community,” said Coun. Linda De Plancke, echoing similar words of optimism about the proposal shared by other members of council.

The Netherlands Reformed Congregation approached the township with the plan earlier this year. With their Bethany Care Home in need of expansion, the congregation’s long-term planning committee deemed the property that currently houses the medical centre as the logical space for expansion.

Likewise for the township, an expanded medical centre is needed, as they’re already at capacity and Norwich is expected to grow in the coming years. Norwich’s asset management plan envisions the centre needing to be replaced by 2039 and there’s also $500,000 in maintenance costs expected over the coming 10 years.

The congregation’s proposal sees Norwich receive a similar plot of land fronting onto Main Street, just to the east of the current centre. The congregation would also provide the new centre, which would cost the township $3.7 million. CAO Matt Smith said an estimate for site prep, servicing and build is $6.44 million.

“So that’s a significant discount for the township and helps us in our long-term asset management planning,” he said.

At 16,000 square feet, the proposed centre is twice the size of the current centre.

Councillors held closed door discussions regarding the proposal and properties earlier this year.

With the plan approved in principle, the township will now create a working group to perform design and costing work and that staff bring back a fully costed plan and design in the first quarter of 2027.