‘Crunch time’ for 'desperately needed' new £15m Eastwood health centre

The council has been pushing for a new health and leisure centre, off Walker Street in the town, since 2022, but an unsuccessful Government bid that same year left the initial plans dormant.

The ultimate aim of the authority is for a new £31m centre to be built that includes a bigger library, GP surgery, pharmacy, pool and community facilities.

In April 2026, the council announced it would be submitting its bid to the Government for full funding of the project.

Now, its leader has been left ‘incredibly frustrated, upset and angry’ as he says the funding requests have not yet received any response.

On September 8, the council’s cabinet gave the authority the go-ahead to move forward with the project regardless of whether it receives Government funding support.

Coun Milan Radulovic (Brox All), council leader, said: “So far, we have written to a number of people – the list of people is extensive – in trying to get them to understand Eastwood’s position and we haven’t had the courtesy of a reply.

“It’s coming to the crunch time where time is short.

"We need to develop this facility, Eastwood’s doctors’ surgery is not fit for purpose.”

The authority had appealed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Ministry of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for funding support, alongside regularly speaking with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) on the plans.

Coun Radulovic says the authority is currently looking at two options for the new centre – one wider option that includes the swimming pool and gym, and a smaller option that only includes a new medical facility, a replacement library and a space that could be used for Eastwood Boxing Club.

Cllr Radulovic continued: “Plans can’t be completed in full without Government support or without support from the EMCCA.

“There’s only so long I can wait.

"People in Eastwood are suffering, they need a new medical facility desperately – they needed it 15 years ago.”

If the council does not receive money support from the government, it is expected to push forward with the smaller centre, which will cost around a minimum of £15m.

Coun Radulovic said Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board have proposed a ‘huge contribution’”towards the project.

He added: “Eastwood’s had no Government regeneration money, we need that money in Eastwood, not for some vanity project but to help fund the basic fundamental need for the community.”

Early plans suggest the new health centre could include 26 doctor consulting rooms, more than a dozen nursing stations, a phlebotomy service, a women’s health and wellbeing centre and cancer screening.

An EMCCA spokesperson said: “We review all projects for funding to ensure alignment to our strategic objectives: objectives which Broxtowe’s leadership helped to craft when EMCCA was established.

“We are in regular, ongoing dialogue with Broxtowe Council and we will continue to engage with them on this and their other projects.”

The Government was contacted for comment.