Student places at South Essex College’s new campus could be cut if the premises are shared with the NHS, it is feared.

A Basildon Council report, entitled improving delivery of health services in the borough, revealed a town centre location for NHS facilities has not yet been chosen with different options being considered.

One of these involves sharing the college campus site.

Four years ago, the council approved the college’s planning application to build a £30million new campus on the site of Basildon Market, which will move to St Martin’s Square.

The college sold its site in Nethermayne and Dry Street to developers, Redrow Homes, to fund for their new campus which claims to take up to 2,000 students.

Danny Lovey, a member of Basildon Green Action Group, has campaigned to stop the developments on Dry Street and questioned whether two services sharing the one premises was viable.

He said: “The college has been quite unclear about their plans.

“I understand the council has to work with NHS to ensure residents get the best service to meet our housing needs.

“But dividing up the premises it means you reduce the capacity of both of their services.

“The college can’t take up the student numbers they claim they can enrol.

“And NHS staff can’t see as many patients that they could potentially see.

“I just don’t think it’s sustainable.”

The college has not ruled out sharing the premises but a spokesman emphasised it is just one of the options being considered and no final decisions have been made.

The spokesman said: “The possible link to the college development is just one of the three strands being explored.

“Until all such strands have been fully explored and a recommended choice has been put forward, there is nothing further we can add.

“We would reiterate the proposed link to the college development is indeed one of three options being explored.

“South Essex College remains fully committed to its presence in Basildon and the communities it serves.”