Home plan for village dentists

A former dentists in a Herefordshire village is set to become a two-bedroom home.

Marty Bateman is seeking what is known as prior approval under permitted development rights to convert the Old Bakery building in School Road, Ewyas Harold in the southwest of the county.

Commercial premises can be turned into homes without the need for full planning permission under certain conditions.

According to Mr Bateman, the two-storey property was rented to an NHS dentist between 2002 and 2020.

It appears to have been vacant since then, though its phone number is still posted on the NHS website.

The building was put on the market a year ago, for an asking price in the region of £165,000 for the freehold.

“This will be a small conversion using one builder with a van, no skips will be on site,” Mr Bateman’s application adds.

Ewyas Harold Group Parish Council has already backed the plan, put pointed out: “There is nowhere for anyone to park outside this property, and road markings need refreshing to reflect this.”

Herefordshire Council highways officer did not object, but pointed out that given the property’s “relatively remote location”, its occupant would likely own a car.

“Whilst it is not an ideal situation to not have designated parking on-site, there are a number of locations for offsite parking in the locality,” they said.
In the absence of this, they urged the provision of secure bike storage at the property instead.

Comments on the application can be made until February 9.