Old doctors' surgery could become flats

The planning application comes as the surgery prepares to move into the Civic Centre buildings in Breck Road in April.

Long awaited plans to move the surgery and double it in size were approved by Wyre Council last year, and will see it move 300 metres, offer new and improved services, and allow patients to be able to park close by.

Documents submitted by Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) outlined plans for 16 parking spaces for the facility and said the move could create two new part-time jobs.

The facility will include a number of GP, consultant and treatment rooms as well as a dedicated room for podiatry and a strength and training room.

Lockwood Avenue Surgery has been in ‘desperate need’ of new premises for around five years, citing its lack of nearby parking as one of the main reasons to move, as well as space limitations.

In 2010, plans to house it with the GP surgeries from Queensway and Princess Avenue, also in Poulton, in a purpose built medical centre on Vicarage Road in the town, were thrown out by Wyre Council for a second time, having already been shelved back in 2008.

In the latest plans, Mr T Bithell from Poulton Road, Poulton, has asked for permission to convert the surgery – which is still currently in use – into two separate flats.

Consultation rooms will be turned into bedrooms, the reception will become a kitchen, and the practice manager’s office will be turned into a bathroom, papers revealed.

No external building work is planned for the two-bedroom flats, while no carparking spaces are planned.

A decision is due soon.