CONSTRUCTION work is set to start this summer on a new home for Bury Hospice — and just £500,000 is needed to fully build and equip the centre.

Thanks to the generosity of local people and a large legacy, the fundraising pot for the state-of-the-art facility has now swelled to £3.6 million.

That is enough to give the go-ahead for building work to get underway on the new hospice, which will be located in Rochdale Old Road, Bury.

Finalised costs have been arranged with Bolton-based construction company GJ Seddon and the total amount needed to build and equip the hospice has fallen.

The amended bill also means the hospice can have 12 inpatient beds, instead of the 10 originally planned. There are just five beds at the current hospice in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe.

Michael Garrity, chairman of the hospice’s trustees, said: “We are delighted to announce that the building phase can now get under way. As a board of trustees, we wanted to be satisfied that enough money had been raised to fund the building programme.

“We have been working very closely behind the scenes with GJ Seddon to finalise the costs of the build, materials and equipment. We now have a definitive figure and are confident for work to get underway.”

Hospice fundraisers are now on the final push to raise the £500,000 still needed.

Mr Garrity also praised the hard work of fundraisers and donors who have supported the capital appeal, despite the recession.

He said: “Our fundraisers have been working extremely hard raising money, increasing the profile of the campaign and telling people why we need a new hospice in Bury.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support we have been given by the people of Bury. They have truly embraced the campaign and come up with some innovative fundraising initiatives.

“However, now that we are on the final sprint to the finish line we continue to encourage people to give us their support.”

Preparations are now underway for building work to start in July.

Before the foundations can be laid, ecology specialists will arrive on site to relocate a colony of great crested newts to a pond 500 metres from the development.

This has to be carried out in the spring once the newts have come out of hibernation.

Because the great crested newt is a protected species, GJ Seddon had to apply for a special licence to survey the site as part of the planning process.

Experts will now build a newt fence around the site to collect the animals and move them.

The aim is for the new hospice to open in January 2013, providing state-of-the-art palliative facilities and allowing individual packages of care to be developed for terminally-ill patients.

There will be 12 fully-equipped, en-suite inpatient bedrooms, each with access to a terrace with views of the garden.

The new centre will also have enhanced visitor accommodation for patients’ families, purpose-built therapy and consultation rooms, increased catering facilities, landscaped gardens and training facilities.

To make a donation to the fundraising appeal or find out more: call 0161 763 1545 or visit www.building anewhospiceforbury.org.uk