THIS is the first look at Burnley’s new urgent care centre – which is set to open to the public in the autumn of 2013.

Proposals have now been submitted to the borough council for the ambitious £9million development, which also includes a children’s minor illness unit, on the Burnley General Hospital site.

And East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has announced that national builder Kier Construction will be carrying out the project, subject to planning permission being secured.

Martin Morgan, the trust’s estates director, said: “The timescales we have set ourselves are challenging but the progress we have made to date has been good.”

Trust bosses say the move, which also incorporates the GP out-of-hours service, demonstrates their commitment to the Burnley General site. The existing urgent care centre is on the Casterton Avenue end of the hospital complex.

But the new combined centre will be linked to the ‘phase five’ development on the hospital complex and have its own dedicated car park, which will be reached via the Briercliffe Road entrance.

Garry Bowker, of Kier Con-struction, said: “The layout and design of the new integrated urgent care centre will enable the very best patient care and patient experience to be provided in modern, therapeutic surroundings.”

Two years ago work was also completed on the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre at the same location.

The urgent care centre initi-ative is part of wider plans to see older buildings phased out in favour of more up-to-date faci-lities towards the southern end of the hospital footprint.