‘The momentum for better health in Plymouth is really building’
An artist’s impression of the second community diagnostics centre for Plymouth(Image: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust)
Planning consent for a second community health facility at Colin Campbell Court has been approved by Plymouth City Council, a month after the first one opened.
The four-storey diagnostics centre, for which up to £25 million has been confirmed by the government, will include MRI scanning, bone density imaging, hepatology, ultrasound, phlebotomy treatment, a glaucoma assessment clinic and clinical consultation/exam rooms and be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.
It will be built on land donated to the NHS next to the newly opened £22 million community diagnostics centre (CDC) forming a “health village” in the West End of Plymouth.
The scheme will result in the loss of 78 parking spaces in Colin Campbell Court and has been designed as “a car free development” except for five disabled parking spaces.
A planning report said “given the city centre location, the site is in a highly accessible location via public transport, with existing bus stops on Western Approach, which is considered to encourage sustainable travel by staff and visitors”.
Planning officers gave the go ahead with conditions under delegated powers. There were no representations from members of the public.
Director of estate and facilities at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust John Stephens said: We’re delighted that planning permission has now been granted, marking another important milestone in our plans to develop Colin Campbell Court as a centre for modern healthcare in the heart of Plymouth.
“This has been made possible through the close partnership between the NHS and Plymouth City Council, with a shared ambition to improve access to healthcare while supporting the regeneration of the West End.
“We are continuing to work with our clinical teams and partners to finalise the range of services that will be delivered from the building. Our focus is on creating facilities that best meet the needs of our communities, making it easier for people to access high-quality care closer to where they live, work and shop.”
The new location means that residents will not have to travel to Derriford Hospital for many routine tests and this in turn will take pressure of the busy acute setting.
Cllr Maria Lawson (Lab, Plymstock Dunstone), Plymouth City Council cabinet member for health and adult social care, said; “The momentum for better health in Plymouth is really building.
“Securing planning permission for a second community diagnostic centre is fantastic news — it means more tests, quicker results, and earlier diagnoses for thousands of people across our city. This is real investment in Plymouth’s future, bringing high‑quality NHS services closer to where people live, work and care for their families.”
She said that the West End, which is one of the most deprived areas of the city, was becoming a “vibrant centre for community health and wellbeing” with the first CDC welcoming patients – it has a capacity for up to 330 appointments a day – and the Peninsula Dental Education Practice thriving in New George Street.
“These projects aren’t just improving access to care — they’re breathing new life into the area, supporting local businesses, and creating a place where people feel proud to live and visit. This is a huge step forward for Plymouth.”
This second centre will be smaller in size than the first but provide a range of integrated acute, primary, and community diagnostic services.