A Herefordshire town is still expected to get a new health centre, despite setbacks.
The new stand-alone two-storey building, on disused ground between Marsh Court and the river Lugg north of Leominster, is intended house the town’s GP surgery and a pharmacist.
Planning permission was granted back in March, but work on the project has yet to start over six months later.
Dr Crispin Fisher of Ryeland Surgery on Westfield Walk, who has led the practice’s drive for a new home, said: “It was agreed some time ago between the NHS and the developer F H Dale, and was priced up.
“Then the pandemic happened, followed by the war in Ukraine, which has caused construction costs to rise significantly, meaning the previously agreed costs were no longer tenable.”
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But despite the resulting delay, Dr Fisher said he is “hopeful” that ground can be broken on the project early next year, for completion in 2024.
“Having been pushing at this for over 10 years, the delay is disappointing,” he said, adding that a new health centre is “absolutely required” for Leominster.
“Everyone says so,” he said. “The current premises is inadequate, the parking is non-existent, we have outgrown it.”
Leominster town and county councillor Jenny Bartlett confirmed: “The new Health Hub proposal is very much alive.
“Following the planning decision, we are now looking at the best and most economical way of delivering the project – something that has been made greatly more challenging with the current financial and commodity volatility.”
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