A CAR park in Winchester City Centre has closed permanently to make room for a GP surgery.

Upper Brook Street car park has closed, as of Friday, March 3, ready for the relocation of St Clements’ practice.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Winchester City Council has been working for more than five years to move the current surgery from Tanner Street and last year agreed a 150-year-long leasehold on the new site with the developer Assura.

READ MORE: New GP surgery: Winchester City Council being 'held to ransom'

Hampshire Chronicle:

A purpose-built facility is set to replace the 58-space car park after the scheme received approval from NHS England and Improvement, and NHS Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group.

In December the Chronicle reported that Assura had told the council that unless £100,000 could be supplied for work to the public realm the scheme may be in danger.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The council agreed to make the payment which will cover costs for new pavements and a drop-off point.

The nearest off-road car park is the Brooks Shopping Centre.