A popular bagel shop is set to close and be turned into a private medical centre which would help to tackle obesity in the area.

Planning permission has been submitted to turn Shalom Hot Bagels, in Gants Hill, Ilford, into a facility that would be home to a private doctor, dentist and travel clinic.

Client Design Services Limited (CDSL), acting on behalf of the applicant, said the site was perfect for a surgery as it has easy access for disabled patients.

The application for planning permission suggests the centre will tackle problems in the area such as obesity.

CDSL told the Ilford Recorder: “One-fifth of children aged four to five years old and over a third of children aged 10-11 years are overweight or obese.

“It is estimated that 55 per cent of adults are either overweight or obese. In addition to this, there is a growing prevalence of diabetes within this local community.

“The clinic will aim to provide weight loss and diabetes services”

However the popular bakery, which has served the local Jewish community for 32 years, said it would fight the application.

A spokesperson for the bakery said: “This is a complete surprise to us. We only found out about it this morning and we don’t intend to let it happen. We have a long lease with the landlord and if the planning application gets approved we will fight it.”  

The aplication wants the store to be turned into a practice with four consulting rooms, a dental suite and a sexual health testing facility.

CDSL said: “Redbridge and Gants Hill specifically have an overall lack of clinics that offer such facilities.

“A new private medical clinic will certainly help to improve patient access to medical services, especially those that are difficult to access via the NHS.

“The clinic will deliver flexible and adaptable community healthcare facilities to meet the community needs.”

According to the application, the clinic will cater to Redbridge’s diverse community, it noted that 37 per cent of resident are born outside of the UK.

It will employ staff who speak a range of languages in order to help patients who do not speak English.

The move has been met with mixed reactions from locals. Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North tweeted: 

This will come as a blow to countless Labour activists who've come to campaign for me via lunch at Shalom 😭 https://t.co/Wpwkd3CJJQ

— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) March 23, 2018