An artist’s impression of the new facility

Planning permission has been granted for the new Plymouth Community Diagnostic Centre (PCDC) to be built in the West End.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) submitted plans last year following a public consultation in November.

It is hoped the new facility will reduce health inequities for those living in areas of greater deprivation in Plymouth and improve overall health outcomes.

Plymouth City Council has now approved the plans for the new centre, which will offer over 91,600 imaging tests in its location at Colin Campbell Court.

Stuart Windsor, Future Hospitals director at the trust, said: “We are pleased to have received planning permission for the new diagnostic centre.

“Groundworks are due to commence in April and we are working on the detailed designs to bring a full suite of diagnostic testing to the West End of the city.

“This will give people living in or near the city centre access to these tests closer to their homes.”

The centre will offer a variety of tests, checks, and scans in a community-based, more-accessible setting

Patients will be able to visit the PCDC for tests such as MRI, CT, X-ray, lung cancer screening, ultrasound, audiology, ECG, point of care testing, and blood tests.

It will also offer physiological measurement testing such as echocardiograms, ECG, and ambulatory monitoring, pacemaker checks, a full array of lung function tests, sleep studies, EEG, and vascular ultrasound.

While building works take place, there will continue to be a mobile scanning unit on the Colin Campbell site to enable people access these tests.

Councillor Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance, said: “This is brilliant news and it’s a moment to reflect on how far we have come and what’s had to happen to get here.

“We acquired properties around Colin Campbell Court as part of our long-term regeneration plans and have been working hard with colleagues in the NHS to bring a health facility to a city centre location, particularly for our residents who need more support with their health and wellbeing.

“We’ve demolished buildings, prepped the land, and only recently completed the work required to transfer the land.

“ Our legal, property, and planning teams have all helped make this happen.”

City centre manager, Steve Hughes, added: “Great news for the hospital, great news for residents, and great news for the city centre.

“We are all too aware that regeneration takes time, but this is a major moment for the West End and I look forward to seeing work start.”

A construction partner will be appointed shortly and it is hoped that works will commence later this year and the facility will open next year.