The in-patient beds at Ongar War Memorial Hospital are to moved to Epping within weeks after a planned £6m state-of-the-art health centre comes a step nearer.

West Essex Primary Care Trust has agreed, provided that funding is approved, to demolish the 78-year old hospital and replace it with a three-storey health facility that will provide a wide range of health services.

The building would accommodate the town's two existing doctors' practices and the community nurses as well as a dentist, and various other clinics - physiotherapy, minor surgery and diagnostic and therapy services.

A purpose-built centre is needed because of the unsatisfactory condition of the current doctors premises which are cramped and cannot accommodate additional services.

Another consideration was that the hospital no longer fulfills national requirements for privacy and dignity and infection control.

Acting locality director Anurita Rohilla said: "We have two excellent GP surgeries but they are unable to offer the range of services they would like because of the lack of space."

She added that neither premises were "an ideal environment" for patients or staff.

Alternative sites had been considered, last week's trust board meeting was told - including the Greensted Road lorry park - but none were considered suitable. An added benefit of the Fyfield Road hospital site is that it is owned by the primary care trust.

Ms Rohilla added that the project had received a "very positive" reaction during the public consultation period although there were concerns over parking and public transport, both of which were being addressed.

Planning permission is still required - a planning application is yet to be submitted to the district council - but Ms Rohilla said that because consent had been given for a three-storey development next to the hospital site - at Smith's Brasserie - "we do not consider planning to be an obstable".

Three sources of funding are being targeted, including finance through the Government's Community Hospitals Fund or the Strategic Health Authority.

Chief executive Aidan Thomas said: "I would be very keen to see us move on this very quickly and not hang around. We would end up being criticised (if there was a delay)."

He anticipated that the beds would be moved to St Margaret's Hospital "in the next month" and the hospital would be empty and ready for demolition before next April, with the new health centre set to open in 2011.

Alternatives local bases for physiotherapy, phlebotomy and community services are being sought for while building work is in progress.

Primary care trust chairman Alan Tobias said: "I think it's a fantastic move for the area. I really think you will have a first-class facility you will be proud of."