An NHS outpatient centre will close amid fears that the site could be redeveloped for homes.

Canvey Outpatient Clinic, in the former Canvey Council offices in Long Road, will close in March next year with the services set to be redistributed to Canvey Primary Care Centre, also in Long Road.

Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commission Group has identified the primary care centre as a ‘hub’ where a number of services will be delivered

Development of the primary care centre will include a new x-ray suite, additional counselling rooms and extra examination rooms.

But the announcement comes just a month after The Echo raised concerns that Castle Point Council could be planning to sell the site off for development.

At the time, leader of Castle Point council, Colin Riley, admitted the site would be surplus to requirements once the NHS vacated it, but could not confirm what the site will be used for.

Margaret Hathaway of NHS Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group said, “We are currently working on a proposal to make some alterations to Canvey Primary Care Centre to help us to deliver a better, more integrated healthcare service for the people of Canvey.

“A summary of these proposed changes include relocating services, including x-ray facilities, from Canvey Outpatient Clinic into the Primary Care Centre. Canvey Primary Care Centre is a modern building, in a good location on Canvey. It is also on a long-term lease, with arrangements in place to ensure it is kept in good condition. Therefore, it has been identified as the hub where many health care services will be delivered in future.

“This will result in the development of a new x-ray suite, additional counselling rooms and additional examination rooms, all of which will be housed in the existing Primary Care building, which will require some modification.

“The exact timing is yet to be agreed and there will be no changes before we have engaged with those affected by the proposed changes to understand any of the wider implications.”