Preparation for a new health centre in Preston city centre has moved a step further.

Preston City Council has confirmed it has been successful in landing £70,000 of funding to scope out the new health centre.

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The city council wants to build the City Centre Health Hub on land behind the Princes Buildings in Lancaster Road.

It would take over the patch of land which leads onto Tithebarn Street, and the city council has confirmed the former Tithebarn pub would be part of the development.

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A report to the city council on accepting the funding states around three or four GP practices would share the new building along with an outpatients service relocated from Royal Preston Hospital.

Around 100,000 patients would be able to be treated at the hub, which would be part of a network of three or four across Central Lancashire.

Council officers write: “The size and central location of the site with its proximity to public transport and car parking facilities at the Bus Station are seen as offering major advantages to delivering an improved health care offer for the city.”

It would also see 160 new or relocated jobs be created at the hub, and it would be open seven-days-a-week.

The council also wants to integrate housing into the scheme for NHS key workers and potentially include work on the empty floors above the former Ham and Jam cafe to turn it into flats.

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A spokeswoman for Preston City Council said: “Following the successful bid for funding from the One Public Estate programme, we are working with Royal Preston Hospital and Greater Preston CCG to prepare an outline of the business case for the provision of a city centre health hub. We expect this initial phase of work to be completed within the next six months.”

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