Health centre hope

If approved, the Phoenix Surgery would be included in a new three-storey building off Yeoman Way, which could also be the base of a new NHS dentist and a pharmacy.

Health bosses have not yet secured funding for the project and insist planning is in the very early stages.

A spokeswoman said: "A planning application has been submitted to Worthing Borough Council for a possible replacement site for the Phoenix Surgery, Goring, as its lease is due to run out in three years. This is just one option currently being looked at for the surgery. There is still some way to go before the new surgery opens its doors."

The Phoenix Surgery, in The Strand, serves 15,000 patients and is oversubscribed. Doctors are so stretched they are considering closing their lists to new patients and have been looking to re-locate for more than a year.

This new centre would allow them to expand and recruit more doctors. The centre would also offer a variety of other services, including an NHS dentist, on-site pharmacy and better training facilities.

It could also be a base for district nurses, health visitors and a midwife clinic, if the plans are given the go-ahead.

James Appleton, senior planning officer at Worthing Council, said: "The site is allocated for industrial development in the local plan. The Strand medical practice is looking to relocate and this is to provide improved facilities."

The site would provide health care for residents of the proposed West Durrington development.