NHS bosses say they won't oppose Alumno's latest plans for Colchester's so-called Cultural Quarter, despite admitting the town's surgeries are full.

Analysis by the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has found five out of six of the doctor's surgeries within the vicinity are already oversubscribed.

A new report has warned, the 336 potential new residents of Alumno's student development will push services in the area to breaking point.

The report, written by estates project manager Elizabeth Dunn, said: "The development would have an impact on primary healthcare provision in the area and its implications, if unmitigated, would be unsustainable.

"The proposed development must therefore, in order to be considered under the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ advocated in the National Planning Policy Framework, provide appropriate levels of mitigation."

The CCG said it will require a contribution from the developer of £52,992, which should be made before building work commences via a Section 106 agreement.

Ms Dunn continues: "The development would give rise to a need for improvements to capacity, in line with emerging estates strategy, by way of refurbishment, reconfiguration, extension, or potential relocation at one of the above mentioned surgeries or through other solutions that address capacity and increased demand via digital solutions or health and wellbeing initiatives.

"For this a proportion of the cost would need to be met by the developer."

According to the report, only Creffield Medical Centre, in Calvary Road, has any additional capacity to take on new patients.

East Hill Surgery, Colchester Medical Practice, including Wimpole Road Surgery, Abbeyfield Medical Centre and North Hill Medical Group are already oversubscribed.

Taken altogether, the practices are in need of an extra 1,533 sq m of practice space.

However assuming Alumno is willing to pay up before development commences, the CCG said it would not object to the latest proposals for the St Botolph's area.

Ms Dunn added: "North East Essex CCG looks forward to working with the applicant and the council to satisfactorily address the issues raised in this consultation response and would appreciate acknowledgement of the safe receipt of this letter."

New look plans for the so-called Cultural Quarter were submitted at the end of last month.

The changes included the number of students rooms being reduced from 388 to 336, moving the western edge of the development further back from the Roman Wall and amendments to the skyline of the development.

However campaigners raised concerns as approximately 600 objections were made irrelevant when the new scheme was submitted.

Dozens of new objections have already been put submitted by residents.