United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has received full planning permission to redevelop the long‑unused York Street stadium site in Boston into a Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC).
The approval from Boston Borough Council means the former Boston United York Street stadium will be demolished and replaced with a purpose‑built facility designed to serve around 350 patients a day.
Purpose of the CDC
The CDC will house MRI, CT and X‑ray scanners, consultation and assessment spaces, and audiology services, creating a seamless, single‑site diagnostics environment aimed at reducing waiting times and easing pressure on acute hospital sites.
The Trust confirms the centre will be run by the same NHS teams that operate local hospitals, integrated with existing digital systems to ensure continuity of care and efficient transfer of results back to referring clinicians.
Redevelopment and community benefit
The redevelopment will bring £24.9m of investment into the heart of Boston.
The scheme includes:
- 115 parking spaces with electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage
- Improved pedestrian access and landscaping, with a focus on biodiversity enhancements
- A mobile diagnostics plaza to support outreach services
- A planned memorial celebrating the heritage of Boston United at York Street, preserving local history as the site evolves into a healthcare destination
The Trust has also agreed to support the delivery of a replacement football facility for Boston United Women’s team, ensuring community sport infrastructure remains part of the area’s future.
Sustainability features and job pathways
The new centre will create around 45 full‑time and 10 part‑time jobs, boosting the local economy and expanding diagnostic career pathways in the region.
Designed to high environmental standards, the building will use modular construction techniques and incorporate renewable energy features, including rooftop solar panels, with the aim of achieving a BREEAM “Excellent” sustainability rating, aligning with NHS priorities for low‑carbon, energy‑efficient facilities.
Supporting local health and system performance
The CDC initiative is part of a broader NHS strategy to enhance diagnostic capacity nationally.
The national CDC programme was introduced in July 2021 to expand diagnostic capacity outside of acute hospital sites, with 155+ centres open across England and a target of 160 by March 2025.
For patients in Boston and surrounding areas, the new CDC will mean easier access to critical diagnostic tests without the need to travel into busy acute hospital sites, helping clinicians identify conditions early, reduce outpatient demand, and improve health outcomes locally.
What happens next?
With planning consent now formalised, the Trust will progress land purchase, demolition and construction phases, with the aim of welcoming the first patients in spring 2027.
This project represents a tangible example of how NHS estates can be repurposed to meet modern healthcare needs.