KINGSTON'S first mass covid vaccination centre is set to become a block of flats after the NHS programme to get the UK jabbed ends, it has emerged.

The building on Hawks Road, where many in Kingston borough and beyond have received their covid jabs, could become a high-rise of 13-storeys according to plans on a newly launched website by developer London Square.

The former NHS clinic was shut in 2019 after the local Clinical Commissioning Group decided it wasn't needed anymore and could be sold off.

But earlier this year the clinic came to prominence as Kingston borough's first mass vaccination site and is listed as the area's community vaccination centre as well as a walk-in clinic for Pfizer jabs.

It is currently the only mass walk-in centre in the borough where 12 to 15 year olds can get their jabs and has longer opening hours than the three alternatives.

On the London Square website, the developer highlights that the clinic is only of temporary use as a vaccination centre.

The services it provided have been moved elsewhere, they added.

50% of the 123 homes in the new housing block will be affordable and there are plans to start work on the site in 2023 if a planning application is approved.

Back in 2020, Kingston Council had hoped to buy the old clinic and build housing there as well as new health services for the Cambridge Road Estate, which is predicted to see a surge in population after the new homes are completed.

But the bid did not go through and there are no plans for the flats to have any health services for residents.

The plans have been criticised by Lib-Dem Councillor Olly Wehring who represents the Norbiton ward where the flats will be built.

He tweeted a photo of the new site, adding: "My thoughts: Way too high."

"The building on the corner of the rebuilt Cambridge Road Estate could be 13 storeys, but makes sense on Cambridge Road. This, on Hawks, doesn't."

Earlier this year, Kingston residents slammed plans to build a 16-storey tower on Kingston riverside stating that it would be an eyesore and spoil the view.

A Council meeting this week also saw residents criticise what they view as overdevelopment in Kingston, including plans for new housing on the Cattle Market site to help fund the redevelopment of the Kingfisher centre.

But developer London Square defends its plans by citing the Mayor's London Plan which stipulates that Kingston upon Thames should have 2,250 new homes in the next 10 years.

Kingston was also one of the worst areas in the UK for homelessness in 2019 and the number of people in temporary accommodation rose by more than half that year.

An online consultation on the Hawks Road plans will run from 21 October until 11 November and an in-person exhibition will be held on Thursday 21 October, between 3:30pm and 6:30pm at the Cornerstone Church Hub.

View the plans on the Hawks Road website here.