A new community diagnostics centre has been given the green light to open in a former Stoke-on-Trent supermarket.

UHNM Trust submitted a planning application for the former Sainsbury's store on Etruria Road for use for medical and health services.

The Community Diagnostic Centre will specialise in scans including CT, MRI and X-ray as well as ultrasound, endoscopy, phlebotomy, cardiology and respiratory tests. It is expected to provide up to 85,000 checks and tests a year after it opens.

The plans were welcomed last year by the city's MPs. And UHNM's chief executive Tracy Bullock said the opening of the centre was "really exciting".

The supermarket first opened in 1987 and closed its doors in early 2022 (Google).

Speaking last year she added: "It will allow us be able to provide a much wider range of diagnostic testing including X-rays, colonoscopy and blood tests. This will enable UHNM to increase the amount of diagnostic testing we do for our patients which will result in earlier diagnosis and they will be treated sooner."

The application was "granted unconditionally" by Stoke-on-Trent City Council on Tuesday 30 April.

An Officer's Report, published by the council, states: "The Local Planning Authority is satisfied that the proposed operation of a Community Diagnostic Centre as set out in the submission, would fall within use class E(e) 'For the provision of medical or health services, principally to visiting members of the public'.

"Given that the existing use and proposed use are both considered to fall within use class E, the proposed use as a CDC would not constitute 'development' for the purposes of section 55 of the Act, and therefore planning permission for a change of use would not be required."

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