Wellesley First School, Norwich, which could be demolished to make way for a health centre.

A former city school could be knocked down to make way for a new health centre, as GPs struggle to cope with demand in the Thorpe Hamlet and Heartsease areas.

Plans to demolish what used to be Wellesley First School have been lodged with Norwich City Council, with the Yare Valley Medical Practice keen to build a new health centre on the site.

The school closed in August 2008, as part of a city-wide reorganisation of schools and site owner Norfolk County Council is looking to sell the land.

The Yare Valley Medical Practice, which has surgeries in Thorpe Road and Rider Haggard Road, has long looked for a new base for a surgery.

Documents which accompany the application to City Hall state: “The current patient list size is 8,000 and it is anticipated that this will continue to expand in the future.

“The existing buildings have been outgrown and fall short of providing the standard of accommodation that the practice and NHS require.

“There is the need to amalgamate the two premises into one purpose-built facility.”

The surgery has consulted with its patient participation group about the switch to the Wellesley Avenue North site, and public consultation was carried out back in 2009.

The plans also include proposals for 14 homes on the site and, while the general response to the new health centre has been positive, some people living nearby have raised concerns about the extra homes. A decision on whether to grant permission for the health centre and homes will be made at a future meeting of Norwich City Council’s planning committee.

Do you have a health story? Call Evening News health reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk