A well-known veterinary practice with branches across Falmouth and Helston is on track to build a new state-of-the-art hospital behind a supermarket in Penryn.

Rosemullion Vets first publicly announced their plans to expand at a meeting of Penryn Town Council in December.

Since then the team behind the two-million pound build have been busy working on securing funding and bringing the design up to the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘exceptional’ standard, which will unlock further financial backing.

Plans for the 7,300 sq ft (680 m2) hospital, set to be built on land currently used for boat mould storage behind Asda, are now ready to be submitted and an application will go in front of Cornwall Council later this month.

(BELOW) The location of the proposed new veterinary hospital behind Asda Penryn

Practice manager Stuart Saunders said the new building was seen as a necessity by Rosemullion’s directors after their latest inspection from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

The RCVS awards hospital status to veterinary practices and made it clear at their lastest check that the cramped, Victorian-era hospital on Melvill Road was quickly becoming unfit for purpose.

“We have outgrown this site dramatically,” Mr Saunders said.

“The hospital status is really important to us and the only way we could keep that was to build a new hospital.”

Three times the size of the current building, the new hospital will offer more parking, employment for an additional six staff members and be built for purpose.

Extra consulting rooms, expanded operating theatres and humane touches such as a separate exit for pet owners whose animal has died promise to make the new building much more user-friendly.

“We provide a service for the community,” Mr Saunders said. “We can’t see a downside to doing this [new build].

“I know the directors are hugely excited about this. There is a phenomenal risk involved but we think the people and the pets of the area deserve it.”

If plans are approved, work will start on the new veterinary hospital by August and be finished within nine months to a year.

No jobs will be lost in the move.

(BELOW) Practice director Paul Stevenson talks about Rosemullion's plans, and the need for a new veterinary hospital

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Vets bid to build state-of-the-art Penryn hospital