A LUDLOW GP surgery that had hoped to move into new premises at the dropped Hospital and Health Village at the Eco Park has decided to extend the existing premises.

After the disappointment of the collapse of the planned new Ludlow Hospital and GP Surgery build, doctors at the Portcullis Surgery have been successful in their bid to extend its site at Portcullis Lane.

The doctors have been considering a number of different options including rebuilding on a new site, taking over the old council Stonehouse premises in Corve Street and enlarging their existing premises.

NHS England has just given the go-ahead for a sizeable extension at Portcullis Lane but has placed a deadline on the approval to complete the works by the end of March 2015.

“The pressure is on, as time is extremely tight, and plans for approval and building regulations consent have already been submitted to the council,” said Dr Dorian Yarham.

But he warns that it is a race against the clock if the opportunity is not to be lost.

“The doctors are worried that if planning consent takes too long to go through the process the opportunity will be lost and are hoping that the council will prioritise the application and give it fast track approval,” added Dr Yarham.

It had been intended that both Ludlow GP surgeries would locate into the proposed new £27 million hospital and health village which was scuppered by Government changes to the NHS.