NEW plans have been submitted for a doctors' surgery in Dorchester.

GPs at the Trinity Street Surgery in the town already have planning permission to demolish two villas on the road and build a new state-of-the-art surgery in its place.

Now a new application has been submitted to West Dorset District Council for a new scheme to include extra parking spaces, an extended pavement area and bus shelter and lay-by on Weymouth Avenue.

The development, which also includes three shops, forms part of the planned redevelopment of the former Eldridge Pope Brewery site.

Developers Brewery Square Ltd have just been granted the final permissions for the site after planners gave it the green light in the summer subject to legal agreements which have now been completed.

The scheme includes shops, houses and flats, an arts centre, restaurants, cinema and boutique hotel.

The latest plans for the health centre also includes access to the building from the Brewery Square site.

A statement supporting the application said: "South West Dorset Primary Care Trust, in partnership with the Trinity Street Surgery, have identified this site as the most suitable location for a new health centre, given its proximity to the existing Trinity Street surgery, the town centre, accessibility and the immediate availability of this part of Brewery Square for development.

"The new health centre will be a sophisticated contemporary addition to the group of buildings in this part of Weymouth Avenue and to the fabric of the town."

The statement goes on to say that the current Trinity Street surgery is no longer regarded as fit for purpose and proposals to extend the surgery were found to be unviable.

The statement concludes: "The new health centre will significantly improve the ability of the practice to provide the current range of primary medical services for their present patient list and the anticipated growth in the town's population."

Comments on the plan need to be submitted by December 21.