Plans have been unveiled for a private medical facility in the car park of Kent’s biggest shopping centre.
Grove Radiology has applied to Dartford council for permission to install two mobile units in the car park of Bluewater in Greenhithe.
The firm is seeking to occupy space in the Red outer car park of the retail destination.
“The proposals are situated on an area that includes a total of 12 car parking spaces, all of which will be temporarily lost to accommodate the proposals,” according to planning documents .
“This part of the centre was chosen as it is an area of the car park which experiences less parking demand, thereby ensuring minimal disruption to visitor access.”
They want permission from the council for two temporary mobile units to be used for “medical purposes to provide MRI and ultrasound scans”.
While “temporary”, Grove Radiology is applying for permission to place the facilities there for five years – until the end of 2030.
One of the two units will be 13 meters long, 4m wide and 3.2m tall and host an MRI machine.
It will also be air conditioned, have smoke detectors and high-frequency shielded doors.
The second unit will contain a reception area and ultrasound facilities and is slightly smaller – at 8m long, and 3.3m wide and high.
“Site set up will take up to a week to install the MRI unit and five days to install the reception/ultrasound unit,” the plans explain.
The firm proposes that the facility will be open 8am – 6pm Monday-Saturday.
No walk-ins will be allowed, with only pre-booked appointments undertaken and about 20 patients a day expected.
Four staff will be required – two for each unit.
However, it is not certain that the new facilities will end up being used by the NHS.
“The units will be operated as a private MRI/ultrasound facility by the applicant, Grove Radiology,” plans say.
“As a consortium of doctors, many of whom work within the NHS, the applicant is committed to benefitting the community by improving access to healthcare, particularly for individuals facing delays through traditional NHS pathways.”
However, they stress they are “open to discussions” with local NHS providers should “opportunities” arise for “partnership or support”.
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They also say Bluewater is an “optimal location for the proposed development in contrast to a town centre location where the proposals would be visually prominent and close to a range of other uses”.
It is not yet known when Dartford council will decide on the bid, but a deadline of August 26 has been set.
