Land donated for second diagnostics centre

Plymouth City Council has donated land to the NHS for a second diagnostics centre to be built in the city.

A planning application is soon to be submitted for a four-storey building at Colin Campbell Court.

The site is designed to go next to the services of the first £25m NHS England funded centre which is due to be completed in May.

The equipment inside includes an additional MRI scanner, DEXA scanning facilities and ultrasound services, alongside dedicated consult rooms for cancer care pathways.

The side by side facilities will significantly expand diagnostic capacity for the local population, according to University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

Councillor Mark Lowry said the multi-million pound land deal would see the council transfer the site to the NHS for a fee of £1, as it did with the first CDC, and ensure the development would happen in a timely manner.

"We are working proactively with NHS England to get a health village in the city centre. Our land is being donated which makes this project financially viable", he said.

"As well as bringing healthcare closer to the people, improving patients' experience and taking pressure off the acute hospital at Derriford it will also drive footfall into our high street."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.