PLANS to build 103 new homes on a former industrial site could heap “unsustainable” pressure on Halstead’s GP surgery, it has been claimed.

Bellway Homes has applied to build houses and apartments on the former site of Central Piling, in Central Park, Colchester Road.

NHS England has completed its consultation on the scheme and has asked the company to pay £33,880 to create more space at Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery in Factory Lane West.

In a report, NHS estates advisor Kerry Harding said: “The existing GP practice does not have capacity to accommodate the additional growth.

“The development could generate approximately 348 residents and subsequently increase demand upon existing constrained services.”

She added: “The development would have an impact on healthcare provision in the area and its implications, if unmitigated, would be unsustainable.”

She said the money should be used to extend, refurbish or reconfigurate the existing surgery.

Her report added the NHS wants to promote “primary healthcare hubs with co-ordinated mixed professionals,”

raising the prospect that the cash could also be used to fund new premises.

The report said Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery has a capacity of 12,331 but has 15,002 patients on its list.

NHS England asked for £96,140 from Gladman Developments after it was given permission to build 292 homes on land off Oak Road last year, increasing the population by 701.

Practice manager David Shedden said there would be physical space to expand the surgery if necessary. He said: “It is really an NHS England issue, so if they say they need more money to provide more services then they do.

“We are pretty full, but we could expand up to a point. If the town expands then we will have to expand to deal with it.

“Because we areanewish build we have got space, if the funding came. It depends what the town planners want, because they might decide they want a branch surgery at the top of the town.”

The surgery was praised by the Care Quality Commission last month and givenagood rating for the way its GPs looked after patients.