Increased housing has forced a doctor's surgery to look for larger premises to cater for its patients.

The Blackwater Medical Centre in Princes Road, Maldon, is hoping to provide better facilities for its growing number of patients by relocating on land at Mundon Road.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Maldon District Council by Brackely Investments Ltd, who is seeking approval to build a new surgery on the vacant site.

Proposals for the premises include eight consulting rooms, two treatment rooms and a small pharmacy.

The application also includes 32 parking spaces with a further three for disabled drivers.

Blackwater Medical Centre's practice manager Karen Wheelhouse said: "The new surgery will help us improve patient care. Maldon is a growing town and we have got an awful lot of new properties and new people coming into the area.

"We need more room and we want to provide a better standard of services for our patients.

"There is excess of 14,000 patients and there are currently seven consulting rooms and one for treatment at the present surgery."

Miss Wheelhouse could not say whether an extra consulting room would mean a new doctor would be joining the surgery.

The application will be determined by Maldon District Council.

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