An Isle of Wight GP surgery may be on the move, because its current home needs ‘significant structural work’.
Healthcare building specialists Assura have submitted an application to the Isle of Wight Council, looking to temporarily turn the top floor of the former NatWest Bank on the Riverway, Newport, into a surgery.
However, planning agent Savills says the practice needing to move cannot be named due to confidentiality.
‘Significant structural’ refurbishment works
Documents say the surgery, which is ‘in the area’, will need to temporarily relocate due to the ‘significant structural’ refurbishment works required at its current site.
Savills say there are limited alternative sites suitable for such a change of use and if the plans were not to go ahead, the former bank would remain vacant and fall into disrepair.
Internal changes only
No external alterations are proposed in the plans, only internally, to turn the former bank into office spaces; a waiting room and reception area; with five consultation and two treatment rooms.
If approved, the practice would be open Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm.
A previous application to change the use of the building had been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council but it had recently been rejected as it was not the correct type of permission to gain.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 22/01368/FUL, on the council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 12th September 2022.
Estate strategy
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (HIWICB) was unable to say which practice may be moving, but confirmed the NatWest building was one it was exploring as part of its estate strategy.
A HIWICB spokesperson said they were doing so to ensure the long-term sustainability of GP services across the whole Island and ‘looked forward to engaging with patients and the public as plans progress from this early stage.’
Newport GPs
It was reported last November, Assura was in discussions with Newport Health Centre to build a new state-of-the-art surgery for the town and was favouring a greenfield site on Godric Road, next to Asda.
It would potentially house the merging of Carisbrooke Health Centre — whose building was said to be ‘unfit for purpose’ — and Dower House Surgery, on Pyle Street — whose former practice partners wanted to sell the building.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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