THE replacement for Greenock Health Centre has taken a major step forward after health board officials approved the £21m development.

Members of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) gave the project the green light yesterday and the plans will now go to the Scottish Government for final approval.

The former Wellington Academy site has already been identified as the location of the new health centre and it’s hoped the facility will be open by 2020, replacing the current, ageing Greenock Health Centre in Duncan Street.

Councillor Robert Moran, convener of the health and social care committee, said: “This new expanded health and care centre will be much more than a simple replacement of the existing facility.

“It will give local people access to state-of-the-art health and care services in a facility fit for the 21st century - all under one roof.

“We want to see GPs empowered to play an enhanced role, leading multi-disciplinary teams of health professionals.

“The Greenock Health and Care Centre will be the perfect place in which this vision can become a reality.”

The development was originally expected to cost £19m and officials say the new price tag is due to an increase in the size of the building, more car parking, addition of a chilled cold water system and extra land remediation works.

The current health centre was designed almost 40 years ago and is the base for four GP practices serving a population of 29,000 as well as providing a range of other services.

Cllr Moran added: “This new centre will be a marked improvement on the current outdated building and will provide better access to the wide range of services.

“Greenock, like much of the West of Scotland, experiences some of the worst socio-economic deprivation and health outcomes in the country.

“The planned design of the building will help break down barriers between services.

“The new centre will help us to transform health and social care services to help people lead healthier lives.”