Council acquires former surgery for redevelopment

Diane Hind (left) and Indy Wijenayaka (right) believe the site has potential for redevelopment

A council has taken control of a former doctor's surgery with a view to redeveloping the site and improving a town centre.

West Suffolk Council has bought the freehold of the former Stourview Medical Centre in High St, Haverhill for £250,000.

The previous occupants, Haverhill Family Practice, previously consolidated on to a single site on Camps Road.

Indy Wijenayaka, cabinet member for growth, said the council would look to find partner tenants that could increase footfall in the short term.

"In the longer term, this will enable us to look at some of the possibilities that a commercial developer would likely ignore, making improvements to the public realm that will benefit the wider town centre," he added.

Mr Wijenayaka said the plans would create a "more attractive environment" and "help communities to thrive".

Diane Hind, cabinet member for resources, also explained the site had "significant development opportunities" that could shape the town.

"By taking control, we can work with partner organisations and look at how we best achieve benefits for the town centre economy and the communities in and around Haverhill," she added.

The council said in the long term it hoped the site could be redeveloped to include a mixed-use development with the possibility of a community space and a residential area.

The property has been purchased through the council's Investing in Growth fund.

It was identified as a key site for redevelopment for the town centre in the Haverhill Town Centre Masterplan that will steer growth to 2031.