Orpington is one step closer to getting a brand new health centre with two GP surgeries and community health facilities on the site of the old police station.

Commercial agreements have been made and leases have been signed for the parties moving in to the Orpington Health and Wellbeing Centre in the town centre.

The development will house Knoll Medical Practice and another GP service, and community health services such as out-patient and x-ray and ultrasound facilities.

The health centre, which is part of a wider programme by Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group to improve health service in the borough, is designed to enable access to healthcare closer to home.

Dr Angela Bhan, chief officer of NHS Bromley CCG said: “We are delighted to have reached this key milestone in our plans for the Orpington Health and Wellbeing Centre.

“It has been a detailed and complex process to agree firstly the business case for the building and then the commercial agreements.

“I am delighted that these are now agreed and that it hasn’t delayed the actual building of the new centre which is well underway.

“We are so committed in Bromley to providing our residents with accessible care which meets their needs and we are very excited to see the new centre take shape.

“Once it is opened we can provide a range of community based services for Orpington people much closer to home and avoid them having to go to hospital for some of their treatment”.

The health centre is part of a residential development by Berkeley Homes and is scheduled to open within the next two years.

Peter Smith, Managing Director, Berkeley Homes Eastern Counties, said, “This represents a significant milestone for the rejuvenation of Orpington’s new town centre.

“Securing such an innovative community facility for this central 2,265 sqm site is testament to the vision and commitment of all involved.

“It will provide superb purpose-built new health amenities for both new and existing residents of Orpington and complement the wider new additions to the town centre, which include a cinema, hotel, gym and restaurants.

“It is an exciting year for this Zone 6 location. Alongside the new Health and Wellbeing Centre, the introduction of new retailers and amenities to the area, 2017 will also see the completion of the first homes at our Brunswick Square development, by the new public square.”