By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 10:08, Tuesday, 05 February 2013

Progress on building a new super surgery has been hailed as excellent news.

David Morton

NHS Cumbria says work on the complex covering north Carlisle should begin in the next few months.

The health centre, a surgery combining at least three practices, will go up on the former Belah School site, off Scotland Road.

David Morton, a city councillor for Belah, said: “It’s excellent news that things are starting to move for Belah.

“I haven’t got an official start date for the super surgery work but if it’s spring then that’s good.”

Near the new surgery site, a block of 42 new retirement flats are to be built – with homes on Waverley Gardens between the two.

Mr Morton added: “I know residents are not too happy about the housing development, but I’ve heard developers McCarthy & Stone have a good reputation.”

Plans for the centre were mooted in 2008, when Stanwix Medical Practice entered talks with doctors from Fusehill Street and St Paul’s Medical Centre in the city centre.

The new surgery will replace the Stanwix Medical Practice – a Victorian building in Scotland Road in need of modernisation. It would also be used by the St Paul’s and Fusehill GPs to offer appointments to patients living in the north of the city.

A spokeswoman for NHS Cumbria said: “We are still working through the contractual and legal arrangements and as soon as these have been finalised we will be announcing the details.”

First published at 10:05, Tuesday, 05 February 2013
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk