Plans to build a brand new doctor’s surgery in Newbury have been submitted to West Berkshire Council.
Eastfield House Surgery, which is currently located at 6 St John’s Road, unveiled plans to re-locate to a larger, purpose-built facility to the south of Newbury College along the A339 in March.
A planning application has now been submitted by Greenham Trust for the new two-storey primary care centre which would contain two clinical wings, a large waiting area and a pharmacy.
The new surgery plans state: “The brief is to provide a new fit for purpose primary care facility of the highest standards to serve the local population now and in the future and to replace the existing outdated facilities.
“The proposal will incorporate the Eastfield House practice with a proposed area of 1451 sq m.
“In addition to this the site will include a pharmacy of 120 sq m for the convenience of patients and links with a joined up care strategies.”
Back in March, Eastfield House put forward a number of reasons as to why the new facility should be built, the key one being that the current surgery is too small.
Eastfield stated that it is 68 per cent undersized, and other reasons offered include that it needs to provide long-term capacity for the increasing population of Newbury and it will allow the surgery to offer a wider range of services to patients.
The plans for the new health centre also include 58 car parking spaces, a dedicated staff accommodation area, training spaces and a flat roof which will allow the possibility to install solar panels.
The new surgery plans have already been received positively by current Eastfield patients.
Derek Brattle believed the new surgery will be necessary for the town due to large residential developments such as Sandleford Park West and East being approved in recent times.
He said: “My wife and I are long-standing patients of the existing Eastfield House Surgery, [and] we consider it vital that this excellent proposed relocation be approved.
“Without this re-development the available health services to the town will diminish considerably.
“With the proposed increased housing numbers south of Newbury, the current restricted practice facilities will be unable to accommodate any additional patients without relocation and building expansion.”
Elizabeth Pope echoed this opinion and said: “Larger, modern premises will accommodate more patients, improve access and expand the services GPs can offer the local people.
“This will be an investment in the future healthcare and wellbeing of our community.”
To view the surgery plans on the West Berkshire Council planning portal, search reference 24/00037/FULMAJ
Newbury residents will be able to submit comments in support or objecting to the application until June 19.
