A major planning application has been submitted to Boston Borough Council for a new three-storey Integrated Health and Care Centre (IHCC) to be built on the site of the recently demolished B&M store at Rosegarth Square.
The application, submitted by Healthcare Design on behalf of NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), outlines an ambitious new facility that will form a key part of the council’s wider regeneration plans for the town centre.
Designed as a flagship health and wellbeing destination, the IHCC will co-locate a wide range of essential services including the relocation of a general medical practice (Liquorpond Surgery), a community pharmacy, library services, dental and sexual health clinics, mental health support, and other shared clinical spaces. A variety of wellbeing and community spaces will also be incorporated into the building, offering services that address not only physical and mental health, but wider determinants such as housing, employment and social connection.
The new development will house Boston’s library, currently based in the Arundell Hotel building, bringing it into a modern, purpose-built facility alongside healthcare services for the first time. The pharmacy and library will be positioned to the north of the site for easy public access, while specialist services including dental and mental health support will each benefit from their own dedicated, private entry points to accommodate patient needs.
Liquorpond Surgery will occupy the entire first floor, providing dedicated consultation and administrative spaces. Additional administrative areas for wider NHS use will be located on the second floor, alongside shared staff facilities. Community group rooms and meeting spaces, which can be booked by local organisations, will offer views over the river and Boston’s iconic St Botolph’s Church (The Stump), promoting visibility and public engagement with the centre.
A key feature of the IHCC will be its extended hours and seven-day opening schedule, ensuring vital services are accessible at convenient times for local residents, including early mornings and evenings.
In line with modern sustainability standards, the IHCC has been designed with the green agenda in mind, targeting net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain outcomes. The building aims to be a sustainability exemplar, with low running costs and a minimal environmental footprint.
Supporting the local economy is another top priority. The project is committed to using local labour and contractors wherever possible, generating training and employment opportunities for Boston residents.
As part of the development, a new access road is also proposed, connecting Rosegarth Street and Lawrence Lane to better manage traffic flow and support a large vehicular drop-off area at the new hub. Additional accessible parking bays are planned along Lawrence Lane, including ambulance parking and seven on-site spaces for accessible and emergency staff use. General visitor parking will be accommodated in nearby existing car parks.
The IHCC has been carefully planned to serve as a centre that local people can take pride in — a true community asset designed to support Boston’s residents now and in the future.
The planning application is now open for public consultation via Boston Borough Council’s planning portal. If approved, the IHCC will be a major step forward in transforming the town centre into a thriving hub for health, wellbeing and community life.
