Community representatives working alongside healthcare bosses to plan a new health facility for Eye have announced a series of key dates as the proposals take shape.

Community representatives working alongside healthcare bosses to plan a new health facility for Eye have announced a series of key dates as the proposals take shape.

The Eye Locality Community Implementation Group say an outline business case for the regeneration of the site is due to be presented to project leaders from NHS Suffolk in mid-October.

The submission will then be forwarded to the East of England Strategic Health Authority for approval.

A marketing exercise will then take place in early November to set out the health requirements for the development on the Hartismere site and invitations to potential developers will be issued in early February.

It is hoped a planning application will be submitted to Mid Suffolk District Council in early 2009 and work could begin the following year.

A one-day event designed to show the public how the facility may look is also being planned and will give people the chance to see the progress which has already been made.

Elizabeth Gibson-Harries, group chairman, said: “Working alongside NHS Suffolk, we have made good progress on this important project. Architects have been appointed to develop concept drawings for the site.

“We have also had some extremely productive discussions with the local GP practice about the future of healthcare in Eye.”