Plans in for replacement 8,600 sq ft Fallowfield medical centre
NHS Property Services is courting a 0.7-acre plot in the south-eastern corner of the University of Manchester’s Armitage Sports Centre and playing fields, minutes from the established student hub.
The proposed Hawthorn Medical Centre is a direct replacement of the existing facility at Fallowfield Retail Park, less than 500 metres away from the application site.
Designs for the 8,600 sq ft single-storey centre have been drawn up by Gilling Dod and would provide 2,400 sq ft across 11 consultation rooms and two treatment rooms to accommodate a range of primary care services.
Plans submitted for Fallowfield Retail Park will see the existing medical centre demolished to make way for an approved 21,100 sq ft Lidl supermarket.
Parking for 36 vehicles, including three EV charging spots, would be provided, with access to the site taken directly from Moseley Road via a new junction.
The development is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating.
Katherine Sheerin, chief commissioning officer for NHS Greater Manchester, said: “Following discussion with Lidl and Manchester City Council, we have decided that a relocation will be the best decision to secure the future of the Hawthorn Medical Centre and Walk-in Centre, which has outgrown its current premises.
“Providing patients with the best care and experience is our top priority and the main factor when considering a number of options for a new location, which is why the unused sports field has been identified as the most suitable.”
She continued: “While the initial notice said to leave the site by autumn 2025, we have finalised an alternative date with Lidl and our partners, which will mean the NHS only has to move premises once.
“We are working with Manchester City Council, The University of Manchester, Lidl, and Hawthorn Medical Centre to ensure that the ongoing planning and design process runs smoothly – with the build due to start in winter 2025 and finishing in autumn 2026.”
Throughout the application period and beyond, the existing medical centre will remain open as normal, and appointments should be attended as usual.
The project team includes Ion Acoustics, Urban Tree Management, Arbtech, Curtins, Netzo, Tetra Tech, Nexus, Silcock Leedham Consulting Engineers, and Redmore Environmental.
Use the planning reference number 144426/FO/2025 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal to view the application.
Related Articles
Analysis
VIDEO | How do you deliver a scheme under Greater Manchester’s new sustainability policy?
GM has introduced a suite of documents to help ensure developers meet Places for Everyone’s net zero carbon goals with their projects. What does it look like putting the guidance into practice?
Most of this large retail site was demolished because HS2 was supposed to go through there.. it’s a state.. literally half buildings have been left when the project was pulled.. the medical center is a walk in.. sitting on the corner adrift from anything else.. it needs to remain a walk in centre and have a big dental centre too.. it seems Lidl is getting in on the action all over the northwest supporting infrastructure.. as long as they stick student favourites.. particularly big cases of booze for the summer it will do well.
By Anonymous
Although part of the site, where Iceland and Home Bargains are located (which are not impacted by the Lidl plans) were intended for an HS2 tunnel vent, the Lidl side was not effected by this. There was very strong local opposition to HS2 and this helped put an end to this vanity project. The area is still covered by HS2 safeguarding, which should have been removed years ago
By Anonymous