Plans for a state-of-the-art medical centre that would allow a GP practice to take on 6,000 new patients are up in the air.

It forms part of the Bell Road development in Sittingbourne town centre.

But plans have been put on hold after NHS Kent and Medway, who would help to fund the GP practice, raised concerns over the cost of the rent.

The body says “no decisions have been made” but the scheme “currently needs further work on its cost-effectiveness”.

The Chestnut Surgery practice in East Street had been preparing to take on the new facility. It is understood that the new practice would accommodate 17,000 patients – up from the 11,000 patients it currently has on its books.

The Aria Group, who are developing the site, say it still wants to build the centre but is looking at alternative uses for the land if the NHS pull out.

One of its directors, Kain Kassam, explained the company is ready to start construction and is “disappointed” that the progress on the facility is being held up.

He said: “We have invested time and money into getting everything ready to be built so it would be surprising for the NHS to pull out when we are ready to go.

“We gave them costings throughout the process and while the cost now has gone up from the original amount it is not wildly different.

“The NHS, which we do have sympathy for, has not consulted with us about the price despite working closely with them.

“We cannot lower the rent as there is a cost by square metre of the site.

“If they had come back to us we would have tried to see if we could make adjustments

“We would still love to build it and have diggers ready to start construction.

“It would help rejuvenate the town centre but we are now exploring other options for the land, whether that be a medical centre or something else.”

A spokesperson for NHS Kent and Medway said: “No decisions have been made on Bell Road. The scheme currently needs further work on its cost-effectiveness as the NHS must consider both value for money and affordability of all proposals.

“Making sure people have access to high-quality GP services is a priority for us and we will continue to support Chestnuts Surgery in exploring all options for the future.”

The centre would be built on the vacant site formerly occupied by the Bell Centre.

It has also been earmarked for almost 200 apartments and a pharmacy which are expected to go ahead as planned.

But Mr Kassam explained: "We can build straight away but in terms of logistics, it makes more sense for us to wait for the NHS decision before we build the rest of the development.

"The medical centre is the furthest inside the development so access to it would be more difficult with the other buildings already built."

The centre would be on the two ground floors of a four-storey building with the third and fourth floors home to 12 apartments.

The redevelopment has been in the works since 2016 after the Aria Group purchased the site in 2015. It expected construction to begin in April 2018.

However, planning permission wasn’t approved until 2021 and “minor amendments” were made to plans in November 2022, which included a larger medical centre.

The need for more GPs in Swale was highlighted in October when Swale council asked for government intervention.

The borough is currently grappling with one of the lowest patient-to-GP ratios in the country and has even faced calls for cheaper houses to entice doctors in.

Councillors pointed to population growth in Swale as a reason for GP appointment shortages.

Between 2011 and 2021 the number of people living in the Borough has increased by 11.7% up to 151,700, well above the national average of 6.6%.

Sittingbourne residents emphasised this need for new medical facilities in the town.

High Street micropub landlady Sara Seabridge, who runs Yellow Stocks, told KentOnline that the medical centre was “hugely needed”.

She added: “We do have walk-in centres on the Island and Faversham but with the population growing, we need something here centrally.

“We all know about the desperate situation of our medical centres across the country not just here.

“But all the new housing does concern my customers and myself. There’s concern there aren’t enough schools, nurseries, doctor surgeries and dentists which is another huge gap for everyone.

“It needs addressing before new housing goes up.”

Meanwhile, Chris Chare, who has lived near Meadowfield School for 20 years says the doctor's appointments have become harder to come by.

“It wasn’t that bad back then,” he said. “Now, the number of people has risen it is really tough getting an appointment.

“The centre would be really good for the town even though it has become a joke as it has taken so long.”

Caroline Fowler's home in Trotts Hall Garden will be overlooked by the apartments.

She says that while she is against the plans for the development she admitted the need for more medical facilities and wants some sort of development in what she labelled “an eyesore”.

The 55-year-old, who has lived in Sittingbourne for 14 years, added that despite going to The Memorial Hospital she had “difficulties” getting an appointment.