Werrington Health Centre extension plans withdrawn after various concerns raised
Plans to build an extension at a health centre in Peterborough have been withdrawn after various concerns were raised.
Werrington Healthcare Ltd submitted the planning application to Peterborough City Council in September to carry out the works at Werrington Health Centre at 97 Church Street.
According to planning documents, the proposed two-storey side extension would have accommodated new consultant rooms and a medical theatre to benefit the existing pharmacy.
Other works would have included the installation of new ductwork and external services, a new raised flat roof and gable to the existing dormer, the construction of a new two-metre-high acoustic fence to form a new services compound, the construction of a new timber bin store and alterations to parking.
However, the application was withdrawn on November 7 following comments made by interested parties during the consultation stage.
Werrington Neighbourhood Council (WNC) said that while it supported the improvement of medical facilities, it could not support the health centre's application which it claimed would lead to "reduction of the already problematic parking".
Its statement read: "It is surprising that the current application has not referred to the obvious car parking problems.
"There has been no attempt to address this problem, to alleviate any concerns nor to make any reference to Werrington Neighbourhood Plan, specifically Policy WNP11.
"Therefore the WNC considers that this planning application must not be considered until the applicant has successfully acknowledged and addressed this problem."
The local highway authority (LHA) also raised concerns about the proposed loss of seven parking spaces to provide the extension, given that there were already parking issues in the area.
It stated: "Having visited the site and observing, the LHA are of the view that the practice does not have sufficient parking spaces for the current use which has resulted in unsafe parking practices and an increase in on street parking along Church Street."
The LHA said it could not support the application if additional parking could not be provided to accommodate the increase in consulting rooms.
The application also received objections from the city council's drainage officer and tree officer.
Werrington Health Centre is a two-storey detached commercial building with flat and pitched roofs, currently being used to provide pharmacy and optician services to the local area.
A formal merger between Boroughbury Medical Centre and Paston & Werrington Health Centre was recently approved by the Integrated Care Board (ICB), with the two practices creating a single expanded practice at the Church Street site.
The building had previously been a Co-op store which opened in 1966 and closed in 1984, with a Kiddicare store then opening in 1986 which was rebuilt and extended in 1993.