A PLANNING application seeking approval for the long-awaited expansion of Launceston Medical Centre has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

The Post has previously reported that the original bid for funding for the extension was submitted to the NHS in the summer of 2013, and last year local Cornwall Councillors criticised the NHS and Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group (KCCG) of ‘holding back’ the medical centre’s expansion plans.

Plans submitted to Cornwall Council are for the demolition of part of the existing surgery, addition of two-storey extension and formation of additional car parking and exit road on the site at Landlake Road.

The existing medical centre is currently the home to 10 General Practitioners and support medical and clerical staff, as well as housing a dispensary. The existing building was constructed circa 1993.

The planning application seeks full detailed planning approval from the local authority for the part refurbishment of the existing building, an extension to the main reception/waiting area and the erection of the two-storey extension to the rear.

Plans submitted to the council also state the external works entail the creation of a southerly link access to the parking areas adjacent to the main extension, and a new exit onto the easterly link road to Launceston Hospital.

The proposal seeks to provide additional car parking to the east of the site and link the two sections of parking.

A design and access statement submitted to the council for Launceston Medical Centre, prepared by Architects Design Group, states: “The GPs believe this proposal provides an excellent opportunity for the local community.

“The addition to the medical centre will significantly improve and expand the existing surgery provision and provide the ability to deliver the best possible primary care services for many years to come within additional modern, accessible and welcoming facilities.

“The scheme will deliver important and much needed new accommodation within Launceston serving both existing and future patients and forms an important part of the continuing services for the expanding population of Launceston.”

The medical centre’s practice business manager Peter Harper said the practice is still involved in two other separate ‘negotiations’ — purchase of the land required for the extension with NHS Property Services and funding towards the building expansion with NHS England.

He added: “Although negotiations concerning the land purchase were agreed in principle back in March 2012, due to the Primary Care Trusts being disbanded, the decision making process became the responsibility of NHS Property Services (NHSPS). NHSPS have only recently completed national Local Estates Plan Strategies for all areas. Now that this has been completed we have recently submitted a ‘heads of agreement’ for consideration by NHSPS exactly detailing our proposal for the purchase of the land required — unsure at this stage when a response will be received.

“With regard to the building we were required in May to submit yet another set of forms to Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group (KCCG) which were reviewed by them in June and forwarded with their recommendations to NHS South Region Moderation panel. Throughout July and August all submitted schemes were further reviewed by the panel and their recommendations made to the NHS National Senior Responsible Officer by the end of August. We have been advised that KCCG will be notified ‘sometime in September’ of the outcome of the bids.

“The partners and staff at the medical centre share the frustration of our patients concerning the time it has taken to get to this stage but assure them that everything possible has been done to meet the ever changing NHS regulations concerning the decision making process.”

Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South Jade Farrington said she was ‘pleased’ to see the planning application submitted, adding: “Parking spaces will more than double from 34 to 69 and the bigger surgery will create an additional 11 full-time and 14 part-time jobs to meet Launceston’s primary care needs.

“The surgery has worked extremely hard to bring this forward in the face of relentless government bureaucracy and I hope they will receive the support they deserve from local people.”