A GP surgery in Poole will move out of its “undersized” and “unsustainable” premises into a development opposite a supermarket.

Carlisle House Surgery, which is currently based in Lagland Street, has received planning permission to re-locate into a vacant unit in the Lifeboat Quay building off Holes Bay Road.

The development opposite Asda is currently occupied by Travelodge hotel, as well as Subway and Costa Coffee.

Simpson Hilder Associates said in a design and access statement on behalf of the surgery that the new medical centre would “enable the practice to overcome a number of difficulties being caused by the existing inadequate premises.”

Expected to be operational by April 2019, it will have eight consulting rooms and three treatment spaces, as well as an interview room, staff welfare facilities, and an office base to allow an independent district nurse to operate from the surgery. Its current patient list size of 6,000 is expected to rise to 8,000 by 2020.

Carlisle House surgery is currently situated in an “outdated, significantly undersized” property, according to Simpson Hilder Associates, and the lease is being terminated.

The surgery’s new location will provide “greater accessibility than the existing surgery, as well as greater visibility for the practice and the NHS”.

The statement adds: “The development of the new health centre would enable the practice to overcome a number of difficulties being caused by the existing inadequate premises at Lagland Street, including: undersized and non-compliant premises; poor accessibility for the frail, elderly and those with disabilities; insufficient car parking for patients and staff; unsustainable maintenance costs, and an inability to accommodate or adapt to a growing and changing patient population’s needs.”

Patients of the new surgery will be able to use the pay and display car park, with a concession system in place.

Giving their backing to the planned move, Poole Quays Forum said: “This is a very positive change that will benefit the site in making use of a vacant ground floor unit that has been empty since completion of the building some years ago.” It will bring life and activate the frontage of this prominent building.”