PLANS for a long-awaited “mini hospital” in Basildon's former Debenhams shop will continue despite the development partner pulling out of the project.

The Eastgate Shopping Centre's former Debenhams, which closed in 2021, is set to be transformed into a new private health centre promising residents 24/7 medical care and access to MRI machines, CT scanners, X-Ray machines and ultrasound equipment.

But development business Fenton Whelan, which was set to build the health centre, have confirmed to the Echo they have “exited the Basildon scheme partnership.”

Galliard Homes, which owns the Eastgate Shopping Centre, has insisted it remains committed to delivering the health facility independently of the development business and is pushing on after plans were agreed by Basildon Council.

It was originally hoped the health centre would be built and up and running by the middle of 2025, however it is unclear if the developer pulling out will impact the proposed timeline.

In an update, a spokesman for Galliard Homes said: “The consortium delivering Basildon Health Centre has been proceeding with the project independently of Fenton Whelan since January.

“A Section 106 agreement was completed in August and planning permission has now been issued.

“They are now concentrating on bringing forward this pioneering medical facility. We will share further updates as soon as they become available.”

Basildon Labour deputy leader, Adele Brown, has previously praised the health centre for taking the stress off the NHS, and highlighted the under-construction health centre at the Place, on Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, will have a great impact on helping residents in the borough.

She said: “I believe this would have been a positive thing to take the stress off the NHS, but as a council we have no control over the developer or their plans.

“I think it is important to note that it is a private medical centre, the majority of people wouldn’t be using it but it would still be of benefit, they would do some work with the NHS and that would help them at this moment.

“The largest impact on the borough’s healthcare provision will be the Pitsea diagnostic centre, we are waiting for that, and across the borough we lack dentists and GPs, and those things are something we hope can be offered in future.”