The development of a multi-million-pound NHS Rehabilitation Centre is being held up over concerns from Nottingham City Council.

The centre, which would be on the Stanford Hall Estate in Loughborough, is set to operate as a research and education facility alongside building rehabilitation skills across the system.

After a presentation by Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) held on 12 October, members of the Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee raised concerns including the remoteness of the location.

The Committee, which must be consulted on matters involving a substantial variation or development of services, includes 10 councillors from around Nottinghamshire.

Speaking following the presentation, Councillor Cate Woodward said: “It is vital that before this Centre begins taking on patients, the concerns surrounding the remoteness of the location and inadequate transport links must be addressed.“Not being able to receive visitors will take an emotional toll on patients and could adversely affect their rehabilitation process.”

It is the role of the committee to decide whether the development of proposals such as the Rehab Centre are in the interests of local health services and have taken account of public interest through consultation.

A planned high street in the hub of the centre will provide the opportunity for patients and visitors to visit small shop-in facilities and carry out independent tasks such as buying ingredients and cooking a meal.

When responding to the concerns raised, Hazel Buchanan, of Nottinghamshire CCG, said: “We are aiming to take advantage of the land opportunity and funding we have been offered by developing the Centre at Stanford Hall Estate.

“While we recognise that transport could prove to be an issue, the location is the location and we have to make sure we benefit from and use this opportunity to build rehab skills across the system.”

Plans for the Rehab Centre include an increased capacity to 70 beds as well as training and education partnerships with local universities and post-discharge support services.