A BATTLE between two developers has begun in Stow after a second applicant comes forward with plans for a new medical centre at an alternative site in the town.

Local resident Jenny Scarsbrook has resubmitted a plan for a new 720 square metre health centre with nine consulting rooms on land at Tall Trees, adjacent to the gypsy field site off Oddington Road where a current application is pending for another developer.

Both application sites have submitted plans in the past and both have been turned down because of their location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The gypsy field plans were refused in April while the Tall Trees site was thrown out in February.

Reasons for refusal of the Tall Trees site, as well as for its situation in an AONB, state: "the development site is part of a prominent and distinctive area of open agricultural land which has historically remained undeveloped and preserved as a green wedge into the town, maintaining the historic relationship between the town and the adjacent countryside".

Both applications propose a similar sized development and car parking facilities although the gypsy field site includes five dwellings.

The Tall Trees site is located opposite Stow Vets and developers state it does not require enabling housing to be built to fund the build.

The new surgery has been designed by local architect Andrew Eastabrook. There will be 32 extra-width and 17 normal-width parking spaces with any overflow accommodated in the proposed additional 38 parking spaces augmenting the existing Stow Town car park, which is situated nearby on Maugersbury Road.

Mr Eastabrook said: “We have worked to create plans that conform to the NHS’s guidelines for the construction of a primary care facility. The new Tall Trees surgery will offer modern consulting rooms, purpose built admin and support space, disabled access, a spacious reception area and ample parking."

He adds that the area of land the development is proposed to be built on is classed as brownfield because of buildings that are currently there. It is planned to be built at the southern end of the site with access from Maugersbury Road while the refused application had the medical centre situated at the northern end where there are no buildings.

There was a public outcry following the refusal of the gypsy field plans in April which had been recommended for approval by officers but narrowly defeated by the planning committee. The plans had been widely supported by residents and medical practitioners at the current health centre which has been slammed by the Care Quality Commission for being too cramped.

Dr Tim Healy, senior partner with Stow Surgery, said they were still waiting to see any business plans associated with the Tall Trees application and could not comment further until it was known how the proposals would affect them. It is understood that funding from NHS England is specific to the gypsy field site.