Church Hill Centre development taking shape

By Ian Dipple Thursday 10 January 2013 Updated: 11/01 09:28

THIS is how the first stage of the Church Hill centre development will look once completed.

Assura Group has started work on the £3.55million scheme which will see a new medical centre and several retail units built on the former car park, opposite the existing centre.

The current practice run by Dr Catherine McGregor and partners - and recently renamed Maple View Medical Practice - will relocate to the site once work is completed this winter. It will increase patient capacity by about 3,000. A pharmacy and NHS dentist will also occupy the ground floor of the new centre.

Several other businesses will also relocate allowing 51 homes to be built on the existing centre site by Bellway Homes.

Dr McGregor said: "The practice has been campaigning for new premises for some time, so we are very excited to see work starting on our new home. The new centre gives us the opportunity to significantly increase our patient capacity and improve our facilities."

Ed Sutton, managing director at LSP Developments which is also involved in the project, added: "The development will improve services and be a real benefit to the community it serves."