Stretched surgery can still use portable buildings

The surgery caters for nearly double the number of people it was originally meant to serve

A stretched GP surgery can use portable buildings in its car park for another three years as a new base for it is built.

Eastfield House in St John's Road, Newbury, was given permission by councillors to move to a new site close to Newbury College in January.

But other work to confirm that surface water drainage can be properly managed at that new site has not been finished so that application has not yet been formally approved.

The surgery was built 33 years ago to support 8,000 patients. It currently has 15,500 patients and that is expected to grow to 28,000 in the next decade due to nearby development.

A planning application for the temporary buildings was first given permission in June 2022 to address what the surgery said was "a critical need for additional accommodation".

It said it was under "severe pressure" to maintain services.

The portable buildings provide the surgery with two additional clinical consulting rooms and space for administration.