LONG awaited plans for an urgent care centre in Devizes have now been submitted to Wiltshire Council and also include a proposal to put up to 50 homes on the site in Marshall Road.

Devizes MP Claire Perry along with councillors and other pressure groups have been working for years to get a health centre for the town that will allow people with serious health problems to get immediate care from GPs.

In November an exhibition to show what the urgent care centre would look like was held and was well received.

But this is the first time that plans for the homes have been fully outlined.

A report from NHS Services to Wiltshire Council said: "It is envisaged that no more than 50 dwellings will be provided at the site, ranging in type and size to serve the existing demand in Devizes.

"New housing on the site will respond positively to the urban edge setting and form an attractive addition to the south-east expansion of Devizes."

The urgent care centre will be positioned alongside the NHS Treatment Centre and it is likely that patients will go there for x-rays. Services from Devizes Hospital will also move to the new centre and eventually the hospital will be sold.

The planning report says: "The proposed plans will see a facility staffed by GPs, emergency care practitioners and nurse practitioners, resulting in faster and extended access to same day primary care advice and treatment.

"In-reach support from social care and mental health providers are also proposed, as well as other integrated community support teams who will

be based at the facility. It is likely that the Urgent Care Centre would be open between 8am and 8pm, and it is estimated that more than 120 appointments per day could be provided."