A former health centre in Colchester could become home to new retail and residential space after it was sold at auction.

The Monkwick Clinic was put up for auction by NHS Property Services after it was earmarked for closure by health chiefs in 2017.

The site, which included the one storey former health centre and small garden area surrounding the site, was sold on Thursday afternoon by allsop auctions in London.

It was one of a number of NHS properties being sold during the sale.

Monkwick was one of three clinics in the area - the Shrub End clinic in Colchester and Mistley clinic in Manningtree - were also set to be set to be closed and sold off.

At the time the North East Essex CCG cited the poor state of the respective sites as the reason for their sale.

Mistley was already closed due to lack of use and unfit water supply, Shrub End Clinic was also empty while Monkwick was subjected to vandalism costing £10,000 per month to repair.

Sam Hepplewhite, former chief officer at NEE CCG said at the time said that difficult decisions had been taken by the CCG.

The property had been given a guide price of £200,000+ and eventually sold for £260,000.

The auction particulars of the site’s sale indicated that pre-application enquiries had been submitted to Colchester Borough Council about two different housing schemes for the site.

One option was for 10 residential apartments; including seven one bedroom and three two bedrooms.

The entry also suggests that this option could have retail space and car parking.

A second option included independent living accommodation for 13 apartments which the plans suggest could be suitable for residents with a learning disability.

This option would also see the provision of facilities for support staff as well as car parking spaces.

A spokesman for NHS Property Services said: “NHS Property Services sold Monkwick because it had been declared surplus by North East Essex CCG and NHSPS’s role is to dispose of surplus property so that funds can be reinvested into the NHS.

It will now be up to the new owners to submit plans for the site to Colchester Borough Council.