PLANS for a state-of-the-art new medical centre in Cinderford have been given a resounding thumbs up by planners.

The district council planning committee, which met yesterday, Tuesday, November 13, unanimously approved the application from Assura HC, the healthcare building development company.

Cllr Maria Edwards, vice chairman of the committee said: “This is a no brainer. There is a bus stop outside, it will create jobs and we badly need to regenerate this eyesore brownfield site.”

When completed, the new £5.2 million building in Valley Road will be leased to the two GP surgeries, which have outgrown their current base in Dockham Road.

The surgeries will then recoup the rent from the NHS.

The two GP practices have been overcrowded for some time and badly need ‘breathing space’.

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group first highlighted the need for a new building in its 2016 Infrastructure Plan.

The Dockham Road and Forest Health Care surgeries hope to move into their new home by the end of 2019.

Work is due to start on the new building once it has the blessing of planners.

The old health centre was purpose built in 1977 accommodating the practices plus ancillary services, including offices and consulting facilities.

However the surgeries’ growing patients lists have now outgrown the building and, with the population of the Forest of Dean predicted to rise by 5,000 by 2031, the situation is only expected to get worse.

The new building will include a central shared atrium with two reception areas and two wings, one for each practice.

There will also be parking for 98 cars and a bus stop outside is served by regular buses running from Cinderford to Coleford.

There will also be a bicycle storage area within the car park.

The site, on Valley Road opposite the Co-op convenience store and next to the former Engelhard factory building is currently used for motorcycle training.

The two storey building is designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible with the entire south facing roof covered in photo-voltaic cells.

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