HEALTH bosses say the planned student accommodation in Colchester’s controversial Cultural Quarter will stretch nearby GP surgeries to breaking point.

The North Essex Clinical Commissioning Group has written to Colchester Council to outline concerns the proposed 340 student flats would have on the six nearest GP practices.

The Colchester Cabinet-backed scheme, on land which was previously home to the town’s bus station, has proved to be divisive, with more than 300 objections having been submitted.

As a result, Elizabeth Dunn, North East Essex CCG estates project manager, has called for developer Alumno to fork out tens of thousands of pounds to ease the impact.

In a health report dedicated to the proposed scheme, the project manager states: “The proposed development is likely to have an impact on the services of six GP practices, including their branch surgeries operating within the vicinity of the application site.

“These GP practices and branch surgeries do not have capacity for the additional growth resulting from this development.

“The proposed development will be likely to have an impact on the NHS funding programme for the delivery of primary healthcare provision within this area and specifically within the health catchment of the development.

“North East Essex CCG would, therefore, expect these impacts to be fully assessed and mitigated.”

The six affected surgeries are:

  •  East Hill;
  • Colchester Medical Practice, including Wimpole Road Surgery;
  • Creffield Medical Centre;
  • Abbeyfield Medical Centre; and
  • North Hill Medical Group

As it stands, only the Creffield Road Medical Centre has spare capacity.

Each of the other practices are all operating well above capacity.

Taken altogether, the practices are already in need of an extra 1,533 sq m.

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Mrs Dunn adds: “The development would have an impact on primary healthcare provision in the area and its implications, if unmitigated, would be unsustainable.

“The proposed development must therefore, in order to be considered under the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ advocated in the National Planning Policy Framework, provide appropriate levels of mitigation.”

The estates boss states the developer should handover at least £53,600 to mitigate the affects of the development.

Meanwhile, two retailers - The Money Shop and Alsahara Grill - have voiced their support for the scheme.

Agent Jonathan Reubin said his clients are “keen to see the regeneration scheme proceed”.

As well as the student accommodation, the plans show part of the Roman wall would be opened up and there would be public space leading to Firstsite.