THE new Winchester city centre doctors' surgery has been given the green light after a series of false starts.

The relocation of the St Clements surgery in Tanner Street to the site of the Upper Brook Street car park is expected to be completed by May 2019, having previously been forecast for completion by December this year.

A design for the new surgery was prepared by Winchester firm Architecture PLB and was granted planning permission in 2012.

But the delays with the development of Silver Hill meant planning permission expired, and a modified version was approved in March 2016.

The surgery building in Tanner Street was bought by Cllr Kim Gottlieb in December last year for an undisclosed seven-figure sum with the intention to pass ownership to a new civic trust.

Cllr Caroline Horrill, leader of Winchester City Council, said at Cabinet on Tuesday she was "delighted" that the development would be going ahead.

Cllr Jackie Porter said: "I welcome this proposal. It has a huge amount of social capital and is really practical. It is vital that at least one of our doctors' surgeries is based in Winchester (city centre)."

Cllr Stephen Godfrey, portfolio holder for professional services, said: "I am delighted we have got this far and can deliver on promises that me and my predecessors made to the people of Winchester.

"17,000 patients can look forward to improved facilities and the city council should be very proud to deliver this."

All three GP surgeries were based in the city centre - Friarsgate, Riverside and St Clements. Riverside moved to the former St Paul's Hospital site at Orams Arbour and Friarsgate relocated to above the Waitrose store in Weeke.