PLANS to replace St Peter's Hospital and bring a new health centre to Maldon could be a step closer after a developer launched a consultation asking residents to give their views.
The proposed site is the 47-acre Maldon Hall Farm, off Spital Road, with the developer hoping to deliver a new 'health hub' to serve the town.
The proposal includes a new retail site of up to 32,000 sq ft including a new food store, shops, a new care home, new office space, up to 320 new homes, and highway works.
An informal 'drop-in' pre-planning application consultation event is being held at the Maldon Town Council offices this weekend and residents can attend to ask the developer questions about the proposal.
Simon Hoare, managing director of Community Connect which is acting on behalf of developer Kensington & Edinburgh Estates, said: "We feel that we are responding to a real need to replace the ageing St Peter's and provide a purpose-built health facility
"The NHS budget is tight and we think this is a no-brainer and a great opportunity for the land to stay in the public sector and gain a new purpose-built health centre."
The scheme hopes to provide up to 200 jobs when completed and depending on the amount of affordable housing needed by Maldon District Council, the health centre could be provided free.
There will be a sliding scale so the new centre will receive additional funding regardless of what percentage of affordable housing is needed by the council.
Mr Hoare said: "Old buildings, like St Peter's, cost a lot more to run and by providing a new health facility we are offering the best deal for all parties providing a great health facility on Maldon's doorstep."
The services provided by the health centre will be decided by NHS England based on the needs of the local area and the Mid-Essex Clinical Care Commission (MECGG).
In December, Maldon District Council submitted a project initiation document to MECGG stating a need for a new community hospital.
But Kath Vale, chairman of the Save Maldon Action Group, is concerned. She said: "It sounds very dubious.
"I hope that Maldon District Council reject the proposal because there would be no point of the Local Development Plan if this goes ahead.
"It's an extra 400 houses with no guarantee of a new health centre because you have to work with the NHS."
John Niland, chief executive of Provide, which provides health and social care out of St Peter's Hospital, said: "We have been working with others over many years to try to secure a modern environment to allow us to deliver a much better experience for the patient.
"The new facility will be able to improve the quality and hopefully the range of services we can give to Maldon residents.
"This proposed development at Maldon Hall Farm gives us this opportunity."
The consultation will take place at the Maldon Town Council offices on Market Hill tomorrow from 10am to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
