Plans providing a "rare opportunity" to build a new £10.6m health centre and almost a hundred new homes on a hospital site have been given the go ahead. 

The proposal for 91 homes and a specialist health 'hub' at the Thorpe Coombe Hospital site in Forest Road, Walthamstow, was unanimously passed by the council's planning committee, despite concerns the proposals include no scope for affordable housing. 

All the buildings on the site will be demolished, with the exception of the grade II listed Thorpe Coombe House, which will be converted into 17 homes. 

Six new blocks, ranging from one to five storeys high, will include a total of 53 one, two, and three-bedroom flats, and 17 three and four bedroom homes. 

Jon Price, of Waltham Forest council's development management team, described the proposal from the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) as a "rare opportunity to secure a modern, specialist health facility."

He told concerned councillors Jenny Gray, Alan Siggers and Yemi Osho, a S106 agreement will require NELFT to make a contribution towards affordable housing, if the viability of the site progresses beyond expectations. 

He added: "The cost of the new health centre is £10.6m, whereas the private residential scheme would generate £6m.

"Therefore there is a shortfall and we did not want to risk not securing healthcare provision."  

Ian Hill of NELFT said: "It is NELFT's incentive to construct this facility immediately with a planned opening in early 2017.

"It will satisfy the acute need for enhanced healthcare and will act as a catalyst for regeneration in the area." 

Residents of the new homes will be provided with private space, in the form of balconies, gardens and communal areas. 

The existing site entrances will be closed and new access provided on Forest Road at the rear of the health centre.

A new entrance will be created in Shernall Street, next to the site of Holy Family Catholic School and Sixth Form.  

A condition on the application states that the health hub must be completed before the first resident can move in.