A MULTI-MILLION pound health centre is to be built in the centre of Blackburn.

Plans to build a new facility for Blackburn were announced back in 2005, but the project has stalled while bosses found a suitable site.

But now work is expected to begin on land off Barbara Castle Way within a year.

Health bosses are buying the site, between Blackburn College and the Capita building from Blackburn Council, for £475,000.

The state-of-the art building will replace the dilapidated 1960s Montague Centre, Oakenhurst Road, where staff and patients are forced to contend with a leaking roof, cramped conditions, inadequate parking and limited disabled access.

It is undecided as yet whether any other GP practices will be sited at the new centre.

No agreements have been made over the new building's design or the facilities included, and a public consultation will begin within the next three weeks to find out exactly what people want from it.

Final budget for the centre is still to be confirmed, but it is thought to be a seven-figure sum.

The development will be paid for by private finance initiative (PFI) partner Eric Wright Facilities Management, and paid back over decades by Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust.

Repayments are still to be decided, although bosses say it will provide "value for money" amid continuing concerns over the cost the PFI-funded extension to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The trust's director of development Craig Oates said he wanted members of the public to be involved in every step of the process.

He said: "This will be a large central health centre for Blackburn, bringing health provision up to date, and once the board formally agrees to buy the land at its meeting on Monday we'll be ready to get going with it.

"But first we want to make sure we are building exactly what people want in terms of extra facilities like cafes, playgroups and everything else like that.

"I hope as many people as possible will get involved, because this is a fantastic opportunity for Blackburn, providing a much-needed facility."

Under the forward plan for the project, it is hoped that the new centre will be fully-functioning by 2010, allowing the PCT to close the Montague Centre that year.

Estates director Paul Hinnigan said in his report to the board: "The Eric Wright Group has been promoted nationally by the Department of Health and Partnerships for Health as offering high quality and value for money."

Coun Mike Lee, executive member for resources at Blackburn Council, confirmed the authority had agreed to sell the land to the PCT.

Health bosses had initially looked at using the former St Wilfrid's lower school, Byrom Street, or the old Ranglings train depot, Wilfrid Street, before deciding on the Barbara Castle Way site.