Doctors are planning to move from their overcrowded practice to a specially created super surgery next door.

The GPs want to leave the surgery in Old Steine, Brighton, because the current premises are outdated.

They intend to set up shop on the ground and first floors of a new office and apartment building which is still under construction.

The surgery, opposite the Royal Pavilion, would include seven consulting rooms, two treatment suites for minor surgery and facilities for health education.

The development, driven by Natta Country Homes with the backing of the Brighton and Hove Primary Care Trust (PCT), requires planning permission from Brighton and Hove City Council to change the use of the premises from offices to a doctors' surgery.

Dr Gary Gilhooly, who runs the site next door with his five partners, said: "We desperately need this new facility. Our existing surgery is overcrowded and outdated by today's standards."

Dr Gilhooly said delays could scupper the plan and urged the council, which owns the freehold of the land, to approve the scheme as quickly as possible.

He said: "Any delays will put the whole project back and add to costs which could threaten the scheme's viability."

PCT director Terry Baker, who has written to the council in support of the plan, said: "Our strategy is to expand health care services in the area and bring all local facilities up to proper modern standards.

"The Old Steine site is a key site for primary care as it is well served by public transport and patients travel to the existing surgery from all parts of the city. This opportunity to build a new, larger surgery adjacent to the existing premises is very rare."

Natta Homes, which is building 10,000 sq ft of offices and nine apartments on the site, for which permission was granted in 2003, has already submitted a planning application for the change of use.

Spokesman Chris Magowan said: "We have been working closely with the Primary Care Trust and with the GP practice involved and everyone has put an awful lot of work into the scheme to provide a top-quality medical facility for the people of Brighton."