A BRAND new health care centre and a host of affordable homes could be built on a derelict piece of land as part of a £24 million project.
Nene Housing Society has submitted the planning application to Peterborough City Council to provide 79 new homes on the plot at Alma Road, Millfield, Peterborough.
A separate proposal for a state-of-the-art healthcare facility will be submitted t
o planning officers in the coming weeks as part of the development.
The Greater Peterborough Primary Care Partnership (GPPCP) will manage the centre.
Although it refused to give any details of what will be in the centre, Nene Housing said it could contain GP surgeries, a pharmacy and a dental practice.
Development director at Nene, Adam Broadway, said the development would provide much-needed affordable homes.
He added: "The site, previously a sports ground owned by Perkins Engines, has been derelict for a number of years.
The new development will not only provide housing, but also recreation facilities, which can be used by the wider community."
The seven-acre development will include homes for affordable rent, private sale and properties to buy under the Homebuy initiative, which enables people to buy a share in a property and rent the remainder.
Leader of Peterborough City Council, John Peach, gave a cautious welcome to the proposals.
He said: "Providing the housing isn't too intense and the plans do include community facilities, then it is good news.
"We would have preferred the land to remain as a sports ground, but the council does not own the land and that was not our choice to make."
The housing will comprise properties with two
to five bedrooms, and also two-bedroomed flats.
A significant proportion of the site will remain as public open space.
A decision is expected to be made on the planning application by late summer. If approved, construction will begin at the end of the summer.
