A new medical centre is approved to relocate and expand in Preston, bringing a refreshed home for a growing GP practice that’s been expanding by about 20% each year.
Preston City Council’s planning committee has granted permission for a two-storey facility on St. Paul’s Road, Deepdale. The Guttridge Medical Centre, led by Dr. Rashid Ali, will move from its current site on Deepdale Road and incorporate a pharmacy into the development.
The site sits on land formerly part of the Preston Bus depot and most recently used by the city council’s environment directorate. Originally, plans proposed refurbishing the existing two-floor building on the plot, but the committee was told that a brand-new building is needed because the current structure is described as tired, old, and unsuitable for modern NHS services. This assessment came from Alban Cassidy of Cassidy + Ashton, the planning and architectural firm supporting the project.
The Guttridge Medical Centre reports that its current facility has reached capacity, serving a patient list of around 4,000 that grows by roughly 20% each year. The new centre is expected to accommodate an additional 3,000 patients.
Seven public objections were lodged, with concerns that the new centre could worsen parking conditions in the area. Councillor Phil Crowe echoed these worries, noting that the on-site car park offers 22 spaces (14 for patients, five for staff, and three for disabled visitors) and might not be enough in a congested area. However, Lancashire County Council highways officers did not raise objections, and Cassidy pointed out that the site is highly accessible by public transport.
The application states the location—behind the operational portion of the bus depot—was chosen because it is well placed for existing patients who can reach it by foot and via reliable public transport links. The new facility will include four treatment rooms and six consulting rooms and will provide services beyond general practice, such as podiatry, midwifery, district nursing, physiotherapy, a pharmacy, and a healthcare assistant.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reached out to the Guttridge Medical Centre for comment on the planning decision and to confirm the anticipated completion date for the new building.
