Persimmon Homes was given the go-ahead by Ashfield District Council in January to build 188 homes on the former Annesley Colliery site, but a further planning application by the firm to demolish the iconic pit headstocks was deferred.

The planning committee meeting was told the health centre was among improvements planned by Persimmon to compensate for the loss of the headstocks.

But the company had been told during the month before the meeting that the centre would not get NHS backing.

The Friends of Annesley Headstocks group, which is fighting to save the historic structure, contacted Nottinghamshire County Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) about the proposal. And the PCT's information governance manager Debbie Pallant confirmed that Persimmon had approached the trust in October about this development.

'Not support'

She said: "Persimmon Homes have designed a doctors' surgery and retail pharmacy as part of a heritage centre on the site, but this does not fit the PCT's requirements on location, size, or content.

"The PCT notified Persimmon in December that it would not support the surgery."

Meanwhile, the Friends group says that if the NHS is not involved in the health centre proposed by Persimmon, they can only see two alternatives.

Said a spokesman: "Either the health centre will involve private health care, such as BUPA, in a relatively deprived area or it will be organised and maintained by the council or the property developer themselves.

"If it is the second, how would this be co-ordinated without involvement from the NHS?

"Would Persimmon recruit GPs or other medical and clinical staff directly or would the council do this using local media?"

Coun Tony Theaker, who represents Annesley on Ashfield District Council, stressed that any such proposals for the pit site were at an early stage.

He said the major housing development for the site, with a big influx of new residents, would create a major need for a health centre and motivate moves for one to be provided.

Persimmon Homes has declined to comment.