A bid to increase capacity at a dental practice in Sandhurst has been refused over parking fears and for being ‘unneighbourly’.
Nightingale Dental & Implant Centre had applied to expand its practice in York Way.
The expansion involved building an extension to the current dental centre to provide two new treatment rooms and an office.
But concerns over parking have torpedoed the plan.
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The practice currently has eight parking spaces, with Bracknell Forest Council parking policies demanding that it be increased to 12 spaces to facilitate the expansion.
However, the additional four spaces were not included in the plan. which was opposed by councillor Michael Brossard, the vice chairman of the council’s planning committee.
He raised fears that more treatment rooms would lead to more patients trying to park in nearby roads, with the practice having 13 staff members and four patients.
Cllr Brossard, (Conservative, Central Sandhurst) asked: “Do you believe that it is possible to incorporate 13 car parking spaces in the surrounding area without detriment to the residents.”
Andy Wells, a council highways and transport officer, replied that the dentists had committed to conditions which restrict patient numbers and staff to current levels.
But committee members were unconvinced.
Cllr Brossard also argued the extension was “unneighbourly, obtrusive and detrimental” to the neighbours at 5 York Way.
Planning officer Olivia Jones had recommended the extension be approved, but when it came to a vote, only Cllr Dale Birch (Conservative, Little Sandhurst and Wellington) would support it, meaning the recommendation failed.
Cllr Brossard introduced an alternative motion to refuse the plan, which won by three votes to two, with Cllrs Jennie Green (Conservative, Priestwood and Garth) and Tony Virgo (Conservative, Winkfield & Cranbourne) supporting refusal, and Cllrs Ray Mossom (Conservative, Owlsmoor) and Birch against refusal.
Cllr Birch said: “I’m keen to see that a viable dental practice remains in the area.
“The owners have made very clear commitments to mitigate the affect of their survival plan on residents, I simply cannot support refusal.”
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Meanwhile, Cllr Virgo, opposing, said: “Although we want business to thrive, particularly at this time, when businesses are in residential areas and they expand to such an extent that they interfere with other people around them, I cannot support that, because they’ve outgrown their suitability in the place they are in.”
The decision on the plan, application 21/00743/FUL, was made at a physical meeting of the committee yesterday (Thursday, December 2).
View tweet coverage of the meeting below:
Bracknell Forest Council's planning committee is in session in the council offices to consider two planning applications. The meeting is being chaired by vice-chair Cllr Michael Brossard (Conservative). You can watch the meeting as it happens here. https://t.co/cG6oixqELn
— James Aldridge (@jamesAjourno) December 2, 2021
The plan was previously discussed by councillors at a virtual meeting on Thursday, November 11.
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