New Dartmouth wellbeing centre approved

£5 million investment in facility

Plans for a new £5 millio health and wellbeing centre in Dartmouth has been given the go-ahead.

The local NHS, South Hams District Council, Dartmouth Medical Practice and other partners are working together to build a new home for GP and NHS services in the town.

The centre will be located on part of the overflow park-and-ride car park, just outside Dartmouth on the A3122 where it joins with the A379 by Lidl.

Councillors on South Hams’ development management committee overwhelmingly voted in favour of granting planning permission.

The aim is to bring many local health services under one roof with a range of services formerly provided at Dartmouth Hospital and currently offered at Dartmouth Clinic. It will also house Dartmouth Medical Practice, Dartmouth Caring and retail outlets such as a pharmacy.

Backing the plans, Cllr Jonathan Hawkins, who represents the Dartmouth and East Dart ward, said: “The loss of Dartmouth Hospital has been well represented in the last three years and while they are not planning matters, we have concerns about the loss of beds in the town and the MIU, given Totnes hasn’t had one for many months either.

“This facility provided will be greatly improved on what we have had in the last few years since the closure of the hospital and the combining of all the health facilities, this facility will be a great improvement for the residents of Dartmouth and the surrounding parishes.”

Cllr Hilary Bastone, who also represents the Dartmouth and East Dart ward, added: “We’ve not had a hospital for three years so this is essential so we do have some sort of health and wellbeing centre, and it will accommodate other services that have continued in the town. It is in the right place and I fully support it.”

Recommending approval, officers said: “The proposal meets the relevant Development Plan policies. It is in a main town where such services should be focussed, it is part of the Local Plan allocation contributing towards the creation of a community hub, and in design and landscape terms it is acceptable and so is recommended for approval.”

Councillors voted by ten votes to one in favour of approval, with one abstention due to technical issues with their connection to the virtual meeting.

Services will include:

• Ante-Natal Clinics
• Audiology
• Bladder and Bowel Clinic
• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
• Counselling
• Community Therapy Team
• Dartmouth Caring – counsellors
• Talkworks (formerly the Depression and Anxiety Service)
• Devon Carers
• Diabetic Eye Screening
• District Nursing Team
• Ear, Nose & Throat
• Heart Failure Clinic
• Lower Limb Therapy Clinic
• Minor Ops
• Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
• Osteopath
• Paediatric Clinic
• Podiatry
• Intermediate care, community therapy, community nurses, social services, are provided in the community