THE Abbottswood Medical Practice in Pershore has revealed that it is set to expand on land currently occupied by the now defunct Cottage Hospital.

In an exclusive interview with The Journal partners at the practice said they hoped that work could begin on the development within the next 12 months, subject to planning permission.

Dr Glenn Ralphs said: “We are buying about one third of the old Cottage Hospital site with a view to expanding the practice.

“We hope to get about six extra treatment rooms which will enable us to offer more services than we do now, together with extra parking spaces.”

Dr Peter Evans added that the development was being funded by the partners themselves.

Practice manager Julie Moore said: “We have been thinking about this development for some years. When the new hospital was built in 2006 discussions were taking place at that time, so this development was part of the original expansion plans for Pershore.

”We have not submitted a planning application yet, and of course any development will be subject to that. However, we are keen for the practice to move forward. The lack of space here for clinical staff is our main problem.”

The old Cottage Hospital site, which has become a bit of an eye-sore in recent years, is currently owned by Worcestershire PCT. To make room for the expansion part of the original building, which was opened in 1895, will be demolished.

Dr Ralphs said: “The PCT have been very supportive of this development and have gone out of their way to help us, as have Wychavon.

“People should not be sad that the old building is going. It did a fantastic job for the community for many years and the site will continue to provide state of the art health care facilities.”

Deputy head of primary care at NHS Worcestershire, Nigel Higenbottam, confirmed that the remainder of the land belonging to the Cottage Hospital will be put on the market.