The sale of land to allow a new £3.5m medical centre to be built in Cromer has been completed.
Work is set to start on the construction of a new medical centre in Cromer after the council confirmed the sale of land, which paves the way for the £3.5 million development, has been completed.
The GP surgery and pharmacy will share the Mill Road site with Cromer Football Club and form part of a community healthcare hub with nearby Cromer Hospital, which sits on the opposite side of the road.
It will include more than 60 car parking spaces, with more than half dedicated to patients.
Full planning permission for the project was granted last summer but the deal between North Norfolk District Council and the applicants Medcentres, involving the sale of public land, was only concluded on Friday.
The new fit-for-purpose medical centre, which will replace the nearby practice in Overstrand Road, is expected to take 12 months to complete and open in March 2018.
Tom FitzPatrick, leader of NNDC, said: 'It is a pleasure to see this scheme come to fruition after so much hard work over the last three years.
'The land sale is one of the last pieces in the jigsaw which will see a much needed medical centre built in Cromer.'
The football club's pitch was moved at the end of last year to accommodate the medical centre and councillors have agreed that money generated from the sale of the land will be ring-fenced as a contribution to a new sports facility for the town. However, no alternative site has yet been found.
Officers at the district council are continuing to discuss potential options with landowners and hope to report to cabinet before the summer.
NNDC chairman John Lee said: 'Now the land sale is completed I fervently hope we can finally provide a home to Cromer Youth Football Club.'
His fellow Suffield Park councillor Nigel Pearce said he hoped the project could now move forward with increased motivation and purpose.
Cromer Mayor Tim Adams welcomed the news, but added: 'I still fear the impacts on Mill Road and will watch carefully for any issues that may hinder the ability of Cromer Town FC to survive.'
Les Frary, the club's general manager, said it was a 'positive move'. He added: 'The club has always supported the new medical centre and pharmacy, which is much-needed in the town.'
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