NHS regions have been given to 28 May to set out their criteria for the next wave of neighbourhood health centres (NHCs).

The deadline was set in NHS England guidance published this week.

The proposals are expected to include geographic definitions of neighbourhoods, existing facilities and upgrade and new build scheme plans.

NHCs will be expected to meet the criteria set out in the 10-Year Health Plan to be open at least 12 hours a day and six days a week and include a general practice as well as clinics, community health staff and integrated neighbourhood team.

Sites of higher deprivation will continue to be prioritised for funding as was the case with the Wave 1 sites announced in March 2026.

Planning for NHC provision should align with place-based planning arrangements, including health and wellbeing boards, where NHS, local authority and voluntary, community and social enterprise partners agree priorities for prevention, left shift and asset use.

Approval panels are scheduled from early June for an agreed pipeline of schemes during summer 2026.

As part of the Autumn Budget, the Government confirmed it would deliver 250 NHCs by 2035, with 120 of those by 2030.