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DC Casebook: Commercial and Industrial - Dental surgery judged harmful to centre

Commercial and industrial

Planning, 12 December 2008

The change of use of a hairdresser's in a Staffordshire neighbourhood centre to form an extension to a dental surgery has been rejected despite claims that it would benefit disabled people.

The inspector observed that the proposal would allow much-improved disabled access and thus fulfil the criteria of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the council's equality scheme. It would also help meet a shortage of dentists available to treat non-ambulant people, he found.

He observed, however, that the proposal would conflict with a local plan policy that prioritised safeguarding neighbourhood retail uses. He agreed with the council that losing even one shop could threaten the centre's vitality and viability. As visits to dentists tend to be less frequent than to hairdressers and attract patronage from a wider area, he reasoned that the proposal could materially reduce the opportunity for regular linked trips.

DCS Number 100-058-763

Inspector Stuart Nixon; Written representations.