NEW homes could be built on the site of a health centre deemed "surplus to requirements" by the NHS.

An application was lodged in December last year for Stage One 'permission in principle' to build up to seven homes on the site of Eccleshill Clinic, Rillington Mead.

That permission has now been granted, which means the site has been deemed suitable for a housing-led development.

An application, submitted by NHS Property Services, said: "The site currently features a two-storey former clinic building, associated car parking and green space.

"The site is not operational and has been declared surplus to the requirements of the NHS.

"The site is previously developed ‘brownfield’ land comprising a single vacant building, hardstanding and amenity grassland.

"The building is the former NHS Eccleshill Clinic which has most recently been used by local authority clinicians to provide services which have since been relocated.

"Accordingly, Eccleshill Clinic is vacant and remains surplus to NHS operational requirements and the monies from the receipt of its sale will be re-invested into the NHS."

It added: "The proposed development provides an opportunity to optimise the use of this previously developed land, which is surplus to NHS operational requirements, as well as making a clear contribution to the environmental, social and economic aspects of the site and surrounding area."

In a decision report, planning officer Andrew Moxon said: "The site comprises a vacant clinic building set within a good size plot in a residential location adjacent to Harrogate Road (A658) which is one of the main routes into Bradford from the north east.

"It is well served by public transport with a bus stop on Harrogate Road immediately adjacent to the site.

"The site is close to Eccleshill local centre and is well served with amenities."

He added that is is a brownfield site and it is "therefore considered that the site would provide a suitable location for housing in relation to its easy access to the highway network and public transport as well as being within a residential area and the development would represent the reuse of a previously developed site.

"The site is a size that can readily accommodate seven dwellings with private amenity space and this use is appropriate in this residential area."

However, the report says the Coal Authority has identified the site lies in an area of recorded, and likely, unrecorded coal mine workings at shallow depth.

The report said: "This does not preclude the development of the site however, at the technical details stage it is expected that the potential risk posed to surface stability by past coal mining activity to be properly considered and any necessary remedial works carried out in order to ensure the safety and stability of the development."

It concluded: "The location and proposed use of the site is appropriate in its context.

"The re-use of previously developed land is supported and the amount of development reflects the constraints of the site.

"It is recommended that permission in principle is granted."

Stage Two will assess the detailed development proposals, including design appearance and layout.