NHS given green light for health and care centre in Boston

Plans for a new integrated health and care centre in Boston have been given the green light.

NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) applied to Boston Borough Council to build the three-storey centre in Rosegarth Street.

It will provide out-of-hospital care and aims to tackle health inequalities by providing early care and intervention for patients.

The new health centre will be situated on the site of a former B&M store - near the river and police station - which was demolished as part of the Rosegarth Square redevelopment.

The borough council was awarded £14.8 million from the government’s Levelling Up fund in January 2023. The redevelopment works are expected to be completed in February 2026.

The building will incorporate a range of public facilities including a pharmacy, library, community dental services, clinical services and offices.

The application has been assessed by local organisations including Lincolnshire County Council, Anglian Water and the Environment Agency which haven’t raised any objections to the plans, subject to all of the planning conditions being followed.

But Historic England has raised concerns about the impact on the nearby historic buildings in the town.

It added: “The current proposal would be harmful to the setting of Boston Conservation Area and the listed buildings within, the level of which cannot yet be determined until further information is provided.

“We recommend that amendments and further assessment are undertaken.”

Read more about planning applications in your area here

But the borough council said the proposal would provide “significant public and social benefits to the area” and it complies with its planning policies.

Full planning permission has been granted for this application, subject to conditions.