Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is urging residents to make their views known on a major development proposal for the area.
On Friday residents will be able to see the revised plans for a new medical centre at the junction of Western Way and Pinkerton Road.
It is proposed to build a new doctors’ surgery with seven consulting rooms, a dental practice and pharmacy on the existing St Andrew’s Church site.
The plans also include a new Methodist church next to the surgery to replace St Andrews, which would be demolished.
South Ham ward councillor Sean Keating said the new plans are an important step forward for the community.
“We are really in favour of the surgery because South Ham has far from ideal medical facilities at the moment,” he said.
“The new surgery would really move us into the 21st century and benefit residents.”
Currently, the area has one GP surgery, on Paddock Road. But since 1998 the practice has been in talks with the borough council to find a replacement.
The Paddock Road site uses buildings from 1964 and in a report to the council is described as “inadequate for modern primary care”.
Cllr Keating added: “There is only one surgery in the area for residents of South Ham and Buckskin.
“And the building is on its last legs. It needs a lot of work done to it. Therefore, it is important to get this new site done.”
When the original plans where submitted in September last year planning officers asked the developers to rethink the parking around the area.
The main change to the plans is the increased number of parking spaces available on the site and within Russell Howard Park.
This change has been made to handle the number of visitors expected to use the medical facility, Russell Howard Park and for parents dropping off and collecting their children from a nearby school.
Council spokeswoman Krissy Lloyd said: “Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is working with the primary care trust, local doctors and residents to replace the outdated and cramped surgery at Paddock Road and its satellite surgery in Hatch Warren.”
The plans will be available for viewing from 2.30pm at St Andrew's Church in Western Way until 7.30pm.
Residents can also give their feedback on the proposed layout on the councils website planning section by searching BDB/72708.
