An agreement has been reached with the NHS for the council to replace the ageing Brocklebank medical centre with a fully updated, bigger, GP-led community healthcare facility.

Under the terms of the agreement the town hall will arrange for the new medical centre and a pharmacy to be built as part of a wider scheme providing new shops and housing on land at the corner of Swaffield Road and Garratt Lane, which is currently occupied by the existing 1960s Brocklebank building, some existing shops and a car park.

The agreement puts in place the latest piece of the jigsaw in a wider investment scheme in this part of the borough.

It has already seen the replacement of vacant and obsolete council-owned buildings with a new 420 pupil primary school – the Floreat Academy – plus a nursery for 50 local children and new homes fronting Oakshaw Road.

This next phase will add another 160 homes on council-owned ‘brownfield’ sites fronting Atheldene Road, Wilna Road and Waverton Road.

This land is currently occupied by a number of unattractive 1950s and 60s council-owned buildings  and their replacement with smart, high quality homes will not only help revitalise the area, but also improve the visual amenity of these streets by restoring parts of the historic street pattern.

The council expects to appoint a preferred developer this summer and for a planning application to be submitted in early 2017 with work starting on site later in the year.