PLANS have been approved to expand a doctor's surgery to cope with increasing demand.

Brookhouse Health Centre in Whalley Range and Shifa Surgery in Bangor Street, Blackburn, went through a merger earlier this year - creating a joint practice serving 12,000 patients.

An application was lodged to Blackburn with Darwen Council earlier this year proposing to extend the Bangor Street surgery, where both practices are now based.

Patients were ‘queuing at 7am’ to get a doctor’s appointment at Shifa Surgery, Blackburn, according to a report by patient watchdog Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen.

Watchdogs also said that the appointment booking process at the surgery needs ‘urgent attention and amendment'.

Using delegated powers, council planning officer John Wilson approved the development.

In March, it was reported proposed work to help facilitate the merger between Brookhouse and Shifa would cost more than £850,000.

NHS Property Services worked with the practice and Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group to come up with a plan to restructure the building.

Primary care transformation lead for the CCG, Peter Sellars, said the extension would help make clinical services at the practice more efficient.

Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care strategy has set out a plan to have fewer but larger practices delivering care.

Mr Wilson said: "The proposed extensions include provision for a more spacious waiting area, additional consulting rooms and a new administration area.

"The proposed development is therefore in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework in providing for the improvement of facilities at the health centre.

"The setting of the development is a medical centre located within a key community ‘hub’ that also includes a community and youth centre, a day nursery, a family centre and Brookhouse Primary School.

"This ‘hub’ is situated within a densely populated inner urban area of Blackburn.

"Bangor Street feeds into the site’s two car parks from the north-east and south-west, with a footpath linking the two sections of highway.

"The proposed extensions are single storey and subordinate to the main building. One is located on each of the gable walls, and the third is an enlargement to the existing front entrance.

"The extensions respect the existing height of the centre and do not project further towards the Whalley Street houses to the rear than the current building.

"Matching materials and roof forms ensure that the development has little detrimental impact within the setting.

"The closest residential dwellings are on Whalley Street.

"Although the centre is built at a higher level than the houses, the two side extensions are single storey.

"The additional impact is not considered to be overly dominant or overshadowing."