Land where a super GP surgery has been planned could now be used for housing, if councillors agree.
NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board has withdrawn plans to build a £7.75m doctors’ practice at the former Tooks Bakery site on Old Norwich Road, Ipswich.
The Cardinal Medical Practice, which has 25,000 patients over three sites, was due to relocate into the new building, but is now expected to expand its Norwich Road branch into a next-door pub.
William Patrick, a Reform UK councillor on Ipswich Borough Council, said using the land for housing would be “the final nail in the coffin for our prospects of fixing long-standing GP issues”.
The Labour-run authority will meet on Tuesday to discuss changing the use of the site, which would allow new homes to be built.
Councillor Alasdair Ross, portfolio holder for housing, said: “The former Tooks Bakery site was previously identified for potential NHS use, but no deliverable healthcare scheme has come forward for that land.
“Ipswich continues to face significant demand for affordable housing, and we believe it is right to explore how this site can help meet that need, while bringing what is currently an unused site back into productive use.
“We recognise that any new development must be carefully considered alongside local infrastructure, including access to healthcare, transport, parking, and other services.”