When the NHS consulted on plans to relocate the most well-used services from Teignmouth Community Hospital to a new health and wellbeing centre in the middle of town in autumn 2020, the estimated cost was about £8m. Current cost estimates have risen to about £19m.

Steve Moore, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Devon said: “I want to say sorry to people in Teignmouth and especially the patients and staff of Channel View Medical Group, who were looking forward to the opening of the new health and wellbeing centre.

The plan was for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust to take a head lease on the health and wellbeing centre from the developer and pay rent while sub-letting the majority of the building to the GP practice.

TSDFT Chief Executive Liz Davenport said: “We’re very sorry that the scheme now looks unlikely to proceed after so much work has gone into it. We were confident it could be delivered but the project has faced procedural and financial obstacles at every turn and, combined, they now look insurmountable.

“We will continue to provide local services in Teignmouth from our existing buildings until sustainable alternatives are found.”