Designed by Aitken Turnbull Architects, the proposals will see the current Roxburgh Street building demolished and replaced with a new facility to accommodate GPs, health visitors and district nurses. An ambulance crew would also be based at the centre.

A total of 21 spaces are incorporated into the design of the new health centre, as well as an additional four for paramedics and their ambulance. The move is expected to allow paramedics quick access to the west side of the town.

Jane Davidson, the chief executive of NHS Borders, confirmed that a planning application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council in December.

She added: “Demolition of the existing building on the site is scheduled to commence in the next week or so, and based on our current planning assumptions the first stage of building will start in May.”

A previous planning application for the site was withdrawn in June 2014 to allow for the completion of a flood risk assessment to satisfy concerns raised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

The project was then put on hold when a second application in May 2015 was later withdrawn.