A DOCTORS’ surgery building considered “unfit for purpose” will close with 4,000 patients moved to an expanded GPs nearby.

The North Laine Medical Centre in Gloucester Street, Brighton, will shut and the patients will be treated at St Peter’s Medical Centre in Oxford Street, which will be extended into the 36-space car park behind the surgery.

It is claimed the new centre will serve more than 16,000 patients in the city.

The current St Peter’s Medical Centre already treats 11,275 patients.

Work is expected to begin in March next year and will be finished in 2020.

Councillor Daniel Yates, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, and chairman of the committee which approved the proposal, said: “This is a great example of how we can provide much-needed local services by working together as partners.

“This proposal will provide high quality health services to 16,000 residents with modern, improved facilities for patients and staff.”

Despite the closure of the car park, the council says there will still be some parking spaces, including disabled bays, for users of the new centre.

They have also said there will be spaces in the nearby London Road car park.

The council says there are 26 bus routes which stop within 100 metres of the existing surgery.

The NHS Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has secured £1.24 million funding towards the project.

Dr David Supple, clinical chairman of the CCG, said: “Both practices are currently sited in premises that are considered unfit for purpose, and the new single larger practice will offer opportunities for more integrated health services to be provided closer to people’s homes.

“There is no need for patients registered at either surgery to do anything to get a new GP.

“They will be automatically taken care of as part of the joining together process.”

A Brighton and Hove Council Spokeswoman said: “We have been working closely with partners, including NHS Brighton and Hove CCG, Sussex Partnership NHS trust and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to deliver estates developments for modern premises.

“Building on the recent proposals at Preston Barracks and 62/63 Old Steine the centre will include the integration of community mental health services from the site.”

The council has not revealed what will happen to the Gloucester Street premises.