Plans to relocate a GP surgery from temporary cabins to a new permanent building are moving forward after the NHS agreed to invest £1.7million.

The funding will go towards transforming the Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre, in Pantile Avenue, into a health centre for the St Luke’s GP practice.

It is expected to be completed at the beginning of next year and work will begin once the existing Cumberlege patients have been relocated.

Dr Sharon Hadley, clinical lead at St Luke’s GP Surgery and a governing body member at Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We are very pleased that this development is finally going ahead, something the community desperately needs and deserve.

“We will be able to provide a better service for our patients in a modern environment. The new centre will provide a major boost to the area and open up further possibilities to support the health and wellbeing of the residents in St Luke’s.”

Once the GP practice has moved into the new health centre, other parts of the building will be refurbished to accommodate community services including incorporating council services and voluntary organisations.

The £1.7million investment is an increase on a previous commitment of £1.5million, which was almost lost when the redevelopment of Cumberlege was put on hold last year.

The delays came after the CCG attempted to begin the work while patients were still in the building. This was stopped due to “patient safety concerns”, including the potential of exposure to asbestos, noise and dust.

If the issue was not solved by the end of this month the NHS would have pulled the funding entirely.

This prompted an elaborate plan which saw several major ward moves across South Essex to free up a ward at Rochford Hospital where the Cumberlege patients and staff could move to.

Councillor and Chair of St Luke’s Patient Participation Group, Trevor Harp said: “On behalf of the patient group, I would like to share how delighted we are. Having worked so hard to get this result, the day has now finally arrived.

"The St Luke’s Patient Group looks forward to being involved in the plans and playing their part in looking after the welfare of our patients. I am also looking forward to the opportunity this will provide for much improved health and care services for all the local residents."

St Luke’s Health Centre, which is run by Virgin Care, was rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission in an inspection report published in September last year.