A GP surgery could take on an extra 4,000 patients if it moves to a new health centre in a £10million town centre development.

Mount Chambers Surgery, in Coggeshall Road, Braintree, has been working with Braintree Council and developers Henry Boot on the scheme to transform the town’s bus park, in Victoria Street.

The surgery has 13,218 people on its patient list, which is currently closed.

Originally proposed as a 32,000 sq ft shopping destination with restaurants, a hotel, car park and a gym, the project has been radically altered.

It is now set to include a 14,230 sq ft surgery, four restaurants, a 146- space public car park, a bus interchange and public open space.

Mount Chambers practice manager Peter Hadfield said he was delighted with the new scheme.

He said: “We are very pleased that progress is being made. Our patients and staff will benefit enormously from having modern GP facilities in the heart of Braintree town centre.

“We look forward to seeing the final plans so the project can progress.

“We have agreed with NHS England that our surgery will be much bigger than what we have got at the moment. We will be able to take on up to 4,000 extra patients over the next few years.”

Braintree Council entered into an agreement to allow Henry Boot to develop the site in 2012, but progress has been slow.

The council announced the details of the new proposals ahead of a meeting to approve them on Monday.

Council leader Graham Butland said: “We’re growing as a town and a district, so we all need to be much more forward thinking about our community facilities, especially when it comes to our health.

“This is a real opportunity for us to help provide modern medical facilities to meet both current and future demand for GP services.”

Tom Cunningham, cabinet member for economic development, said the scheme would bring “a better variety of places to eat” to the town.

Carole Theobald, locality director for NHS England (East), said: “This offers potential for an exciting development in Braintree and providing increased provision of healthcare services for patients in the local area.

“Any developments will be subject to a business case being submitted and approved by partner NHS organisations, to ensure the best outcome for our patients.”

If approved by cabinet, Henry Boot must submit a planning application by December 31