A state-of-the-art cancer diagnosis centre near Scarborough has reportedly been constructed without the necessary planning permission, according to a recent investigation by The Yorkshire Post.
The £12.5m facility, intended to provide crucial diagnostic services to thousands of patients across the region, has been built at Scarborough Business Park.
While the wider site has outline planning permission for commercial and light industrial use, the specific permissions required for a healthcare development have not been granted.
According to The Yorkshire Post, local sources indicated that the site is still not connected to the national electricity grid because of the unresolved planning status. One individual told the paper: “They haven’t got planning permission, so it can’t be connected.”
Both the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed to The Yorkshire Post that a formal planning application is expected to be submitted to North Yorkshire Council in the coming weeks.
However, neither organisation provided an explanation as to why construction proceeded without prior approval.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Council acknowledged awareness of the development, stating: “We are aware of this development and are currently investigating the position to ensure that the proposal meets planning requirements.”
The diagnostic centre forms part of a national NHS programme aimed at improving early detection of cancer and other serious conditions.
Once operational, it is intended to provide a range of services, including imaging, blood tests, and specialist consultations.
This situation has prompted wider discussions about due process in public healthcare projects and the importance of regulatory compliance, even under the pressures of urgent health service demand.
At the time of writing, the centre’s future remains dependent on the outcome of the retrospective planning application and any potential enforcement action by the council.