Proposed new Hampton medical centre and accommodation would allow for thousands more patients in Peterborough

Hampton Medical Centre currently occupies a unit in the Serpentine Green shopping centre but has been deemed no longer fit for purpose due to its limited space and growing local population.

On October 2, a planning application was submitted to Peterborough City Council for a new purpose-built medical facility at Silver Hill which would serve as the new base for Hampton Medical Centre.

Planning documents state: “The practice is expanding and recruiting more clinical staff to meet the growing demand. The new facility will accommodate more clinicians which will enable the practice to provide more appointments, a wider range of services, and offer more patient registrations.”

The medical centre and accommodation would be delivered in two phases.

The first phase would comprise a new medical facility, parking, landscaping and associated infrastructure while the second phase would comprise residential accommodation, which would be exclusively for the use of medical students undertaking their training with the practice.

The existing medical facility within the Serpentine Green shopping centre serves 12,400 patients, but it is expected the new facility will be able to serve 15,000 patients as part of its Phase 1 works, and even more post Phase 2 completion.

When complete, the development would comprise a two storey, flat roofed building, including a 2,100sqm new medical centre facilities and 245sqm of ancillary residential accommodation, providing six self-contained student studios.

A planning statement reads: “The development as a whole, and at each stage, will provide a purpose-built, multidisciplinary medical facility for Hampton, improving patient outcomes, integrating and streamlining services, enhancing efficiencies, providing training opportunities and improving overall patient experience resulting in a highly innovative model of care for local residents.

“Not only that, but it is also centrally and conveniently located to service the population of Hampton, as well as being located amongst other key services and facilities.”

The centre is expected to provide 40 full-time equivalent jobs.

A total of 44 parking spaces are proposed across the site, split between staff parking and patient and visitor parking.

City council planners will make a formal decision on the proposal at a later date.

Phase 1

The medical facility at Phase 1 would provide a total of 26 treatment rooms, consultant rooms and minor procedure rooms with services at the facility including musculoskeletal clinics, specialist diabetes clinics, mental health clinics, cancer care clinics, physiotherapy clinics, midwifery, health visitors, drug and alcohol services and diagnostic facilities (e.g. community ultrasound).

Patient and visitor facilities would include a reception lobby, multiple waiting areas, toilet, changing and feeding facilities and a dedicated triage space.

Phase 1 is considered to be the ‘interim’ position, in advance of Phase 2 being constructed.

Phase 2

Phase 2 would follow on in approximately three to five years once further funding had been secured, according to the plans.

This would comprise additional medical treatment rooms and ancillary residential accommodation for students.

The existing Hampton Medical Centre has a successful student training program which has been operational since 2020, and the practice currently hosts students from Leicester, Cambridge Universities, Imperial College London and University College London.