Thanet District Council in Kent’s Planning Committee has recently voted unanimously to give outline planning permission to the long-awaited Thanet Health Campus, which developer, Quinn Estates, says will deliver a ‘once-in-a-generation’ project for the local area.
The ‘landmark development’, Quinn Estates’ first in Thanet, was praised for being superbly put together and ‘well-thought out, delivering ‘multiple benefits to the local community’. Thanet Health Campus will include up to 9,253 m2 of commercial floorspace, and a comprehensive range of primary care-based services in purpose-built new premises. Other elements of the scheme include an 80-bed care home, a 70-flat extra care facility, and a children’s nursery.
Mark Quinn, CEO and Chairman of Quinn Estates, said: “Alongside the jobs created by the medical campus, there will also be a significant boost in employment from the commercial element. We’re also extremely proud that the scheme includes 100% affordable housing, including an extra care facility for the most vulnerable members of the community. Quinn Estates is looking forward to bringing forward this project and making a real difference to the people of Thanet.”
The plans to move The Grange Practice from its existing site in Ramsgate to a new, larger purpose-built building at the health campus site off New Haine Road near Westwood Cross will, the developer says, ‘provide a major boost to the area’s primary health provision.’ Practice Manager, Julie Hill, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the decision to approve the Health Campus. Our primary problem as a surgery currently is that we have simply run out of space to serve the needs of our patients and ensure we continue to be able to care for an increasing population. We will be able to employ more GPs and nurses and expand our community clinical team, ultrasound, and dermatology services, to reduce waiting times. Co-location with the other health users on the campus will also offer a fantastic opportunity for joint work, and a more integrated population health approach for patients.”
The Planning Committee’s decision follows the submission of an outline planning application in December 2023 for the entire New Haine Road site. A detailed planning application for the new medical centre is expected to be submitted later this year.
