Work on a new £8m super surgery for Ipswich's Cardinal Medical Practice could get under way within a year if planning permission is confirmed next month.

The proposed surgery on the junction of Old Norwich Road and Bury Road is due to be discussed in detail by the borough's planning and development committee on April 5.

If it gets planning permission detailed contracts will then be drawn up and awarded - with work on site starting during the 2023/24 financial year.

Most of the building work should take place in 2024 and the new surgery would open its doors to patients in 2025.

It will replace the Norwich Road and Chesterfield Drive surgeries. Deben Road surgery closed to patients two years ago and is now the administrative centre of the practice.

Once the new building is opened, all surgeries will take place there although the Norwich Road building will be retained for administrative purposes - the other two sites will be sold.

The council will build and own the building and let it to the NHS to run the practice.

Next week's executive meeting is expected to give senior officers the go ahead to appoint consultants to draw up the overall construction plan if permission is granted next month - otherwise there could be a three-month delay before work can start.

Ipswich Council executive member Martin Cook said: "This is such an important development for the people of north-west Ipswich, enabling Cardinal Medical Practice to deliver a wide range of services under one modern roof. 

"The council and local NHS partners have worked very hard to drive this project, and we look forward to building works in 2024.” 

The new health centre will have 29 clinic rooms, 11 nurses rooms, a minor operation unit, and other rooms for staff and plant.