Part of Chatham’s former Debenhams could be transformed into a medical facility.

The NHS is developing plans to move into the ground and first floor of the empty department store, which closed in 2020.

A new elective care centre is being proposed to increase capacity for planned operations, easing the burden on Medway Maritime Hospital.

NHS bosses hope this will speed up waiting times for patients having scheduled surgeries and treatments.

The plans could also see 68 flats created across the upper floors above the medical facility.

But Medway Council – who bought the building in 2022 for £2.2 million – is yet to hear a final decision from the NHS.

If those plans fail to progress, only the ground floor will be kept for commercial or community use to create an active frontage onto the High Street.

In the meantime the council’s own housebuilding firm, Medway Development Company, has been selected to oversee initial construction work at the disused building.

The £730,000 enabling works, paid by the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund, will unlock the residential development on the upper floors.

There is currently no deadline for the completion of these works.

Commenting on the latest plans, a council spokesperson said: “We are currently exploring options for the former Debenhams building in Chatham High Street, as part of our ongoing work to regenerate the high street and increase footfall to the town centre.

“Discussions are ongoing with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) about the possibility of developing an NHS facility on the lower floors of the building.

“We are fully supportive of the ICB’s work to provide health services locally.”

NHS Kent and Medway were also contacted for comment but did not respond.

The department store was originally built in 1979 as a branch of Allders, before becoming Debenhams in 2005.

After Medway Council bought the building in 2020, it was put up for rent in the search of new tenants.