Official plans for a new "super surgery" which would serve 20,000 people in north Kent have finally been submitted.

Planning documents have revealed the medical centre is earmarked for land at Steel Avenue, Greenhithe, and will replace three " very old" GP practices in Dartford and bring them under one roof.

If approved, The Swanscombe and Bean Partnership and the Temple Hill Group are planning to build new premises for their patients who currently use surgeries at Elmdene, Greenhithe and Ivy Bower.

The mega surgery, which was dealt a blow in January when it was revealed plans had stalled due to rising costs and "financial challenges", would be 1684sqm in size and include a total of 47 car parking spaces, five of which would be accessible bays.

It would see a part two, part three-storey building erected to meet the growing demands of needs for nearby residents.

In November 2021 private talks over the NHS-led proposal were held by Kent County Council, where it was agreed to sell vacant greenfield land on the car park site, which has been owned by the authority since 1973, to deliver the facility.

Residents, councillors and local health leaders all expressed their frustration over the stalled plans which are seen as desperately needed in an area with pressure on GP services due to rapid housing growth – including the 15,000 homes planned nearby at Ebbsfleet Garden City.

However, since then a planning application has been put forward to Dartford council for approval.

According to documents submitted to the council the proposal is for the “development of a medical centre with undercroft parking, landscaping, and other associated works”.

A full planning statement reads: "The proposed development seeks full planning permission for the development of a part two, part three-storey Class E medical centre accommodating a range of primary care services, including clinical and associated support spaces.

"The proposal will deliver the national requirement for extended access in general practice across a seven-day period and implement an integrated model of care to generate closer working of community health and social care."

Its hours of operation would be 8am - 5pm with extended hours on a weekday evening and Saturday mornings.

The plans reveal the need for the building as being to "deliver better quality care to the community" and replace the three existing practices which it claims "are no longer fit for purpose".

Nine cycle storage spaces are also being included to encourage sustainable travel.

The need for the replacement and additional surgeries is recognised by both Dartford council and Dartford MP Gareth Johnson amid the “growing pressure on GPs" locally.

According to the plans the combined list size for the existing practices at Elmdene, Greenhithe and Ivy Bower has increased by more than 50% in the last five years – from 32,487 in April 2018 to 49,471 in February 2022.

This is an increase of nearly 17,000 patients with Elmdene Surgery seeing the largest increase with their 2016 list size increasing by more than 60%.

To view the plans click here and search for the planning reference 23/00145/FUL.

It was hoped the new medical centre would be built by September 2023, with a developer starting work on the site from August last year – but so far no work has begun.

In a letter previously outlining his support, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: "There has been significant housing development in Greenhithe in recent years and the resulting population growth has put growing pressure on GP provision in this locality.

"The demand for primary care services will continue to increase and it is vital that GP capacity is expanded to allow people to access the medical services they need in a timely manner."

He urged health planners to review the business case for the surgery promptly.

The business case for the new GP premises is being submitted by the Swanscombe & Bean Partnership and the Temple Hill Group, both based in Dartford.

The partnerships seek a solution to address what it calls "a unique set of circumstances", including significant population growth, as well as lack of capacity, poor quality and uncertainty about the future leases of the properties they currently occupy.

The two Swanscombe & Bean sites will merge into one service location, while the Temple Hill Group practice will remain a separate entity.

Formal merger of the two providers is not considered to be necessary or desirable at this time.

However, the co-location will afford efficiencies and opportunities to grow and develop services across the area through development of a centralised ‘Greenhithe hub’ to compliment the planned developments in Dartford, Swanley and Gravesend.

The services will share reception and waiting areas, meeting and staff welfare spaces and a hot-desk office.