HEALTH chiefs have identified their preferred site for a £15m 'super surgery' in Bicester.

Graven Hill, to the south of the town, was announced as the 'preferred option' for the purpose-built hub by Alchester Medical Group GP Dr Toby Quartley at the Langford Village Community Association AGM yesterday.

Dr Quartley said Graven Hill would cope better with traffic than Kingsmere, the other option, according to Healthy Bicester.

The site at Kingsmere was found to be unable to fulfil a number of the selection criteria and to be of 'insufficient size' for future expansion needs. 

ALSO READ: Four surgeries set to close under 'super surgery' plan

Under the 'super surgery' scheme, Langford Medical Practice and Victoria House Surgery – both run by Alchester – would move into a new site with Montgomery-House Surgery and Ambrosden Surgery.

Each one will work individually from the same location.

It is hoped that the new 'super surgery' will be ready in around three years.

The town’s other practice, Bicester Health Centre, will stay and expand facilities on its present site at Coker Close.  

ALSO READ:Town divide over new Bicester GP surgery set to delay opening

Alchester Medical Group say the new surgery at Graven Hill will provide what is needed to 'meet the demands of a booming local population well into the future and will be a new and modern workplace for staff.'

It also said that it fully expects that it will also be able to offer additional facilities for patients that will save them from making some journeys for treatment elsewhere, such as to Oxford or Banbury. 

A post on Healthy Bicester's Facebook page said: "It was made clear this is still very early in proceedings and this was just the first step in a three year process, including gaining planning permission and building the surgery.

"Dr Quartley also reassured residents that existing surgeries would remain open until any future facility was ready."

The decision to close the four surgeries was announced in February this year and affects tens of thousands of patients.

ALSO READ: Bicester GP surgery suspends new patients amid recruitment crisis

In May, more than 300 people voted in a Facebook poll asking for opinions on where the multi-million pound facility should be based, with 67 per cent choosing Graven Hill.

The partners of Alchester Medical Group and Montgomery-House Surgery will now continue working with all relevant stakeholders and authorities so that construction of the new surgery can begin as soon as possible.