Planning chiefs have rubber-stamped plans for a huge new health centre to be created in Walsall town centre.

The Challenge Building in Hatherton Road will be converted into a  new medical facility which will bring together four existing GP practices under one roof.

On Thursday (March 21), Walsall Council's planning committee agreed to grant permission for the centre - which will boast 54 consulting rooms, support spaces, an optician, pharmacy and a cafe.

Challenge Building, Hatherton Road, Walsall
Challenge Building, Hatherton Road, Walsall

Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had already backed the plans with Dr Simon Brake telling the committee that the new centre would transform patient care.

But the proposal was met with fierce opposition from Paddock ward councillors Rose Martin, Waheed Rasab and Gurmeet Singh Sohal who argued the new facility should have been built on a site in Broadway North in the heart of the areas it covers.

Plans released last year said more than £9 million would be spent on the facility and it would bring together the existing Lichfield Street Surgery, Saddlers Medical Surgery, The Limes Medical Centre and Sycamore House Medical Centre.

Dr Brake said: "The proposal is thoughtful and progressive and will provide 21st century, fit-for-purpose facilities.

"It will give patients across the area the services they need and when they most need them. It is a significant step forward in terms of improving services and buildings that are currently being used."

But Councillor Sohal told the committee: "It is short-sighted to build the medical centre in that location. "Many residents have signed petitions in support of a new facility in Broadway but they feel they are not being listened to and have been let down.

"Hatherton Road is very busy and this will only add to the traffic congestion and it seems as if this is being done to boost footfall to the town centre."

A computer-generated image of how the new health centre could look in Walsall
A computer-generated image of how the new health centre could look in Walsall

Officers told members that the town centre facility would be well served by public transport links while Broadway had no direct bus services to it.

Councillor Aftab Nawaz said: "I understand the concerns of the Paddock councillors but this is a good use of the building and it is a good application."

After the meeting, Councillor Martin said the Broadway site was served by three bus services and added she had written to the authority to complain as she felt the transport information had influenced the final decision.

She said: "We are very disappointed with the decision. A council should be giving the population accessible local health facilities in the heart of its communities. That's what I've been fighting for and that's what Broadway would have given Walsall South."