DOCTORS in a deprived estate in Gravesend will soon be able to move out of a portable building and into a state-of-the-art health centre.

Gravesham Council's regulatory board gave final planning approval to the £750,000 centre in King's Farm last week.

The privately-funded centre, which is due to be built off Windsor Road in the summer, will have three GPs, a pharmacist, district nurse and benefits advice officer. It will cater for around 5,500 patients.

Dr Bhargawa Vasudevan, who has been a GP in King's Farm for 14 years, says the project is a "dream come true" for the estate.

He says the health centre is desperately needed because the two other GPs on the estate, Dr Andrew Harris and Dr Florence Hamp, are currently working out of a portable building next to his surgery, in King's Drive.

He said: "Since I moved to the estate, I have dreamed of setting up a health centre but I couldn't do it as a single practitioner.

"But, now there are two other GPs on the estate, we have been able to set up the project which will be great for the people on the estate and will get Dr Harris and Dr Hamp a proper surgery."

The centre is being funded by General Practice Investments and Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust.