A NEW health centre could open up in vacant units at a shopping centre.

A planning application has been lodged for four empty units in Victoria Shopping Centre to be transformed into a centre which would provide sexual health and wellness services, as well as office space for both clinical and non-clinical staff.

The Echo understands that an initial six-year lease at the Southend shopping centre has been agreed.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of the council, said it was the result of the council, NHS and GPs working together to provide new services.

He said: “This is 100 per cent positive news. We’ve got a growing population, with growing needs, and this will be very accessible for our existing population as well as the new people in many of the new homes that are being built.”

Earlier this year non-urgent blood testing was moved from Southend Hospital to the shopping centre, and waits were cut from up to two hours to less than five minutes. This was seen as a boon for both health services and local retail, and sparked calls for more essential services to be based in the town centre. 

Southend Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue has also hosted a Covid vaccine walk-in centre.

Mr Woodley said that this was only the first step, with another new health centre also planned for Shoebury.

“We are looking to work with the clinical commissioning group on that,” he said.

“It’s something we’ve been working on for a number of years, and it seems that at long last we have the council, the NHS, and our GPs all working in sync.”

Southend Council will also be landlord of the new facility, after buying the Victoria Shopping Centre for £10 million last year.

Council leader Ian Gilbert said: “These units have been vacant for quite a while, so this will provide another reason for people to come into our town centre, and I am sure there will be other community uses coming forward.

“It’s good news for patients, for businesses, and for Southend.”