Doctors buy pub to acquire more space for patients

An abandoned pub has been bought by a doctor's practice and will be converted to provide more space for patients.

The Cardinal Medical Practice in north west Ipswich has completed the purchase of the former Inkerman pub on Norwich Road - where the last pint was pulled in 2022.

Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee approved renovation plans last November which will include six new clinical rooms, a small waiting room and a group room on the ground floor.

Practice manager Andrew Preston, of the Cardinal Medical Practice Group which will deliver services from the renovated building, said: "This is a big moment for us. It will allow us to offer more facilities for local people."

The new facility will also create more parking spaces and an outbuilding will also contain toilets, a small kitchen, storage, and two more group rooms for patient-facing activities.

The plans for the former pub, which is adjacent to the surgery, came after a proposal to create a so-called "super surgery" on the former Tooks Bakery site - costing £7.75m - was axed.

The Inkerman scheme came together through a partnership between the practice, the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), LSI Architects, CPM Consult, WSP Healthcare Advisory Service, MP Consultants and Ipswich Borough Council.

Councillor John Cook, portfolio holder for communities and sport at the borough council, said: "I am very pleased that the expansion of Cardinal Medical Practice is happening in Ipswich, filling an unused space with new clinical facilities, which will benefit local people.

"This will have a positive impact on residents."

Now that the purchase of the site has been completed, work on the site is expected to start next month.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.