A MAJOR new surgery and medical centre is in the pipeline for Ipswich, it emerged today.

A MAJOR new surgery and medical centre is in the pipeline for Ipswich, it emerged today.

Plans for a three-storey surgery on the site of a builder's yard in Handford Road have been submitted to town chiefs.

The new surgery would allow for the move of the existing Burlington Road practice which is currently a few hundred yards from the proposed site which is occupied by V.A. Marriot Ltd.

It is also the site of the former Handford Cottage pub which closed in the 1970s. At the time it closed the pub had been expected to be redeveloped - but it was used as offices by the builders' site for many years.

Application documents reveal the existing surgery is too small for current patient numbers and a new purpose-built centre, with space for nine doctors, will also “create additional space for complimentary medical uses”.

The existing surgery in Burlington Road would be redeveloped with private homes while the building firm will move away from the town centre.

Richard Atkins, responsible for planning and economic development at Ipswich Borough Council, said he could not comment on the application but supports the principle of improving Ipswich's infrastructure.

“There is a need for infrastructure to go along with additional housing whether it is flats or traditional family homes,” he said.

“One of the things looked at in planning terms is what are the distances between residential areas and surgeries.

“We try and make sure people are adequately catered for.”

The application will have to get the go-ahead from town planning chiefs at a formal committee meeting before work could get started.

A date for the proposals to go before planners has yet to be set.