A landmark new £4.7 million Dental Teach and Treat Centre is set to go ahead in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, after the development was granted planning permission. The plans include seven general dental surgeries and five new modern training surgeries.

The surgeries will be used by NHS Education for Scotland in association with Scottish Universities and Colleges and will help to sustain the improved dental facilities on the islands by attracting promising dental students to the facility, year on year.

The new facility will be located within the grounds of the Western Isles Hospital and the buildings' expected date of completion is December 2010.

Chief Executive Gordon Jamieson commented, 'We are delighted that the Teach and Treat Dental Centre has now reached this key stage. Stornoway Teach and Treat Dental Centre aims to provide NHS Western Isles with a purpose built building that both patients and staff can be proud of. This will provide the islands of Lewis and Harris with modern dental facilities capable of improving the dental health of the local population, through the delivery of first class dental care and treatment.'

Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland, Malcolm Wright, said 'The centre will help teach dental students on outreach from Aberdeen University Dental School and it will support new graduates as they undertake their first post-qualification year. In addition, links with the University for the Highlands and Islands (UHI) will allow oral health therapists to be trained in the new centre.'

The building will be arranged over two storeys. Patients and staff will enter the building on the ground floor where they will be met with a main reception point and associated waiting space. General practitioner surgeries and patient areas will be located on the ground floor with training facilities and staff areas located on the first floor.

It is the intention to reduce the carbon footprint of the building where possible through responsible design including passive measures. All occupied rooms can be naturally ventilated and day lit.

Insulation levels will be increased and glazing specification to windows improved to reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain during summer. Solar panels will be used as a renewable energy source for providing hot water to serve the building.