Levy on new housing to fund growth of GP surgeries

The capacity of five doctors' surgeries in Rotherham is to be increased over the next two years using funding from a levy on new housing developments.

Dinnington Group Practice, Gateway Primary Care, Stag Medical Centre, Rosehill Medical Centre and Thorpe Hesley Surgery will all be upgraded thanks to the cash.

A total of £256,074 - which is 67% of the project cost - will come from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge local authorities can impose on new development schemes to help fund services in their areas.

The remaining funds will come from the practices involved, with support from the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

In Rotherham, the increasing number of homes being built as part of the council's Local Plan has led to higher demand for GP and health services, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Using CIL money, existing spaces at the surgeries in the town will be reconfigured and refurbished to create more clinical rooms and services.

It is hoped the increased capacity will meet the demands of the growing population and alleviate pressure on the NHS, which faces challenges in funding capital projects due to national budget limitations.

Work on the affected surgeries in Rotherham is set to begin later this year, with completion expected in 2027.

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