A "desperately needed" new medical centre is being planned for 15,000 patients.

The proposals are for Whitfield, near Dover, with the village earmarked for thousands of new homes over the next few decades.

It would also include some hospital and clinic services, so freeing up pressure at those facilities.

A planning application has been submitted by a company called Assura Medical Properties Ltd of Warrington, Cheshire.

The scheme is to build it on undeveloped land, currently farmland between Arable Drive and Field View Road in the northern edge of the village.

It would replace Whitfield Surgery at Sandwich Road.

The proposal is for a two-storey building with 57 parking spaces, consisting of six disability ones and six electric charging points. Bicycle parking would also be provided.

The building, simply called Whitfield Medical Centre, would include nine consulting rooms, two counselling rooms, two treatment rooms, a pandemic isolation suite, a dispensary and multi-purpose rooms.

The roof would have solar panels.

A statement to the council from the architects Corstophine & Wright said: "Given the increase in population associated with the Whitfield Urban Expansion the provision of a new medical centre will prevent unsustainable pressure on existing services in the area."

The Whitfield Urban Expansion is a projection of creating up to 6,350 homes in Whitfield.

To date 1,732 have been granted planning permission in the area and it is estimated that 2,200 more can be delivered by 2040, the time frame of the current Dover District Local Plan, and the rest afterwards.

Corstophine & Wright also say: "More services normally provided within hospital or other local clinics could also be provided at the new building freeing up facilities for specialist procedures.

"This is in line with the Governments policies to place more secondary care within the primary care setting.

"We have included a number of multi-purpose rooms to allow for visiting clinicians and consultants to carry out such services.

"The new proposed medical centre will become an essential service in the area."

Members of the public have started making comments on the council's planning portal and the first three contributors support the application.

'I just hope that there will be a bus that goes to it...'

Janet Thornton said: "Desperately needed in Whitfield."

Karen Wellert said: "I support this needed medical centre and look forward to this being built."

Anne Chamberlain also wanted the centre but said: "I just hope that there will be a bus that goes to it so that people who do not drive and maybe have mobility issues can get there."

At present, the nearest bus stop is at Forge lane, 330 metres away.

By the end of 2023 Whitfield is also expected to get a new rapid public transport system, the Fastrack electric bus service, which will also go straight to the centre of Dover.