Designs for a £25m Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) planned for the Broad Marsh regeneration development in Nottingham city centre have been officially approved by council planners.
Nottingham City Council has given the official nod for the designs for the Nottingham City CDC – a one-stop shop run by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to help reduce the backlog of patients waiting for diagnostic tests.
The CDC will support GPs in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire by providing direct access to diagnostics services such as MRI, CT, x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, ECG, and lung function testing.
The former shops on Lister Gate – which included Claire’s Accessories, Mountain Warehouse and Holland and Barrett – will now be redeveloped.
This will involve stripping the former retail units back to the concrete structure and refurbishing the roof and plant rooms.
The new CDC plans include space for two x-ray machines, three MRI and CT scanners (although only one of each will be available in the first phase of the project), an ultrasound machine, a room for taking blood, consultation rooms, and a coffee bar.
Paul Matthew, Chief Financial Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is another important milestone in the journey to provide the people of Nottingham with diagnostic appointments more quickly and on their high street.
“This centre will be vital in reducing the number of people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire waiting too long for diagnostic tests so that they can then either have peace of mind or begin any treatment needed sooner. It will also enable patients to access these tests without needing to travel to a hospital.”
Nottingham City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “It is great news that the Community Diagnostic Centre has been given the go ahead at the Broad Marsh regeneration site. It is especially important to see that the development will reuse part of the frame of the old shopping centre as, without this, it would have been difficult to find a suitable location elsewhere in the city centre.
“This facility will give people access to vital health services right in the centre of Nottingham, near to the new bus station and car park and a short walk from the train station, in a state-of-the-art building surrounded by new people-friendly green streets and public spaces. It will help to bring people into the area, providing a boost for businesses and creating more jobs.
“This is another exciting development happening at Broad Marsh, alongside the recent opening of the new Central Library and Collin Street play area, plus work is underway on the new Green Heart city centre park.”
The planning application was submitted at the beginning of February and went through the normal eight-week decision process before being approved.
The construction works will include removing the part of the old atrium roof which connects the building to the former Broadmarsh Shopping Centre.
