Overdevelopment fears for Kesgrave dentist expansion plans

Kesgrave Town Council has once again objected to expansion plans for Kesgrave Dentist Care in Penzance Road after it submitted new proposals in January.

The surgery submitted plans to East Suffolk Council seeking permission for a portacabin to be installed at the rear garden of the surgery, which was formerly a residential property.

Kesgrave Dental Care is located on Penzance Road (Image: Lucy Taylor)

The new structure will provide staff with improved amenities including a manager’s office, staff room, toilet and changing rooms.

It will not increase patient capacity nor are there plans for Kesgrave Dental Care to hire additional staff.

Permission has also been sought to convert the small toilet in the surgery, which is used by staff and patients, into a wheelchair accessible toilet for patient use only.

However, Kesgrave Town Council says in its letter of objection that the plans "represent an overdevelopment".

It said: "This proposal continues to represent an overdevelopment of a constrained residential plot. Previous applications raised the same concerns, and the fundamental issues remain unresolved.

"While local businesses are valued, their expansion must not come at the expense of neighbouring residential amenity or safety.

"The ongoing pressure on street parking demonstrates that the site cannot accommodate the operational demands of the business."

The council goes on to question if planning permission for an increase in opening hours for the surgery was granted by East Suffolk Council.

Last year, Kesgrave Dental Care submitted plans for a permanent expansion which would have seen the construction of additional consultation rooms, an expanded waiting room as well as the plans for staff amenities.

These were withdrawn in November after failing to get support from Suffolk Highways on the basis that congestion could increase with more staff and patients travelling to and from the practice.