The centre is part of major regeneration plans for Braunstone.

It is due to open in early 2005, providing residents with doctors' surgeries, dentists, chemists and other services all in the one building on Hockley Farm Road.

It is costing �6.3m and is being developed by the Leicester Housing Association in partnership with the city council and Braunstone Community Association as well as the Leicester City West Primary Care Trust.

The centre is to be entirely funded by money from the government's New Deal for Communities.

Anne Glover, a director of the association, said: "A lot of the 14,000 residents on the estate had little or no access to health services.

"We did a survey and found that 90 expectant mothers were registered with 29 different GP's - all off the estate."