GP surgery set for expansion as plans approved

A GP surgery in Derby is set to expand after a warning that it "faced the real possibility" of refusing more patients.

Derby City Council has approved plans for a two-storey rear extension of the Grade II listed Vernon Street Medical Centre.

Bosses previously said in planning documents the surgery, off Friar Gate, had "exceeded operational capacity" and approval of the plans would increase patient numbers.

The extension will mean capacity can increase from seven to 15 clinical rooms, effectively doubling the size of the medical centre.

Karen Lloyd, the surgery's managing partner, said in a statement there were real concerns for patients' safety if the expansion could not be made possible.

She said about 1,000 residents would soon be living at the new £75m Friar Gate Goods Yard development. When complete, they would most likely be registering with the surgery, as it would be their closest one.

Objections were raised that the extension would mean the loss of car parking spaces, which it is feared would increase on-street parking nearby, and that the design was "not in keeping with the local area".

A planning officer's report responded to the concerns, but was satisfied that the plans could go ahead, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The report said: "While there is a small degree of less-than-substantial harm to the listed building and the conservation area, this is outweighed by the public benefits of enhanced healthcare provision."

Previously, the practice explored developing a new premises in Mackworth, but documents said the project made "no material progress", leading to the expansion plans.

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