Dentist re-bidding for bigger extension after council’s privacy concerns

A dental surgery has turned to government inspectors in a bid to build a three-storey extension after being rejected by council planners over privacy concerns.

Earlier this month, Sandwell Council approved a downscaled application to extend two rooms and build two new rooms at Complete Dental in Bearwood Road, Bearwood after previously rejecting proposals for a three-storey extension with four new surgery rooms.

Despite receiving planning permission for the smaller extension, Dr Nikesh Farmah has now appealed to the government’s planning inspectors, which can overrule the council, in a bid to get the rejected three-storey extension approved.

The surgery had said the four new rooms would help address a ‘significant’ shortage of appointment slots, but Sandwell Council’s planners rejected the first application by Dr Nikesh Farmah saying the extension would lead to “intrusive overlooking” and a loss of privacy for neighbours.

Approving the smaller extension earlier this month, the council’s planners said the extension would be a “sufficient distance from neighbouring properties as to raise no significant concerns” and had addressed the previous reasons for refusal.

“The massing and scale of the rear extension would be proportionate to the existing property and raises no concerns regarding its impact on the character of the existing property or the visual amenity of the wider area,” planners said.

The dental practice said it needed to extend the building as it was experiencing “very high levels” of demand, long waiting lists and limited availability for appointments. 

A statement included with the application by Complete Dental said: “There is a significant and ongoing shortage of NHS dental provision across Sandwell and neighbouring areas. 

“Complete Dental is currently experiencing very high levels of patient demand, resulting in long NHS waiting lists and limited appointment availability.

“Local demand for NHS dental services continues to grow, and the existing size and layout of the premises restrict the practice’s ability to meet this need effectively. 

“The proposed expansion is the only realistic means by which the practice can increase capacity, shorten waiting times, and improve NHS patient access.”