Plans for a new £3.7million GP surgery in Stroud to serve 9,000 patients have taken a significant step forward.

The “more modern” health centre is being proposed to open in autumn 2021 in Minchinhampton to cope with a growing local population.

The NHS Gloucestershire clinical commissioning group (CCG) said the practice has outgrown its current surgery building in Bell Lane, and is proposing a new surgery be built in Vosper Field, Cirencester Road.

The CCG’s primary care commissioning committee approved the business case for the health centre, and final approval rests with Stroud District Council’s development control committee in 2020.

If given the go-ahead, the new centre would have up to 53 car parking spaces.

Dr Tristan Cooper, GP Partner at Minchinhampton Surgery, said: “We outgrew our current building some years ago.

“Having the right space and modern facilities would give us the base we need to meet the ever-increasing health and care needs of our patients and ensure that we can continue to provide high quality services for years to come.”

Director of Primary Care at the CCG, Helen Goodey, said: “The primary care commissioning committee endorsed the proposals last week and we are delighted that this development is moving forward.

“The new health centre would be modern, spacious and environmentally friendly with good access for people with disabilities and better facilities for children and families.

“It would enable doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to offer a broader range of services to patients.”

The extra space would be used for additional consulting and treatment rooms, and would include more support from pharmacists, counsellors, dementia nurses and mental health practitioners as well as better access to minor operations and a range of clinics, such as respiratory and sexual health clinics.

This development is part of wider plans to improve GP premises across the county.