Developers want to turn Derbyshire village GP surgery into flats instead of bedsits

If approved by Derbyshire Dales District Council, the former GP surgery on Columbell Way in Two Dales, would be demolished to make way for 10 apartments.

The plans, submitted by Briant Property Holdings Ltd, have been recommended for approval by district council planning officers and a decision will be made on Tuesday, October 13.

If approved, the former GP surgery would be bulldozed and replaced with a two-storey apartment block, with 20 parking spaces – two for each apartment – and a storage unit for up to eight bikes.

In a statement submitted with the application, applicant Mr Briant wrote: “This development will appeal to those in later life wishing to downsize, or those predeceased by their husband/wife/partner, who prefer a small abode, easy to keep warm, that doesn’t soak up all their income, and the security of living in close proximity to others.

“It makes best use of previously developed commercial land, while the new building will sit comfortably in the street scene, replacing the existing unattractive commercial property, and will respect the adjacent properties in terms of design and protection of amenity.”

Plans had been approved in August last year to convert the former GP into a bedsit housing up to 12 people in 10 rooms.

This was despite more than 400 objections from people who feared potentially disruptive tenants.

They were concerned that those renting the bedsits would upset the neighbouring elderly residents.

Darley Dale Town Council has now opposed the apartment plans saying the development would be ‘overbearing’ and is too big for the site.

It says there is not enough room for 20 parking spaces and that the design of the scheme is “poor” and “inappropriate”.

The council wrote: “There is concern that these properties will become social housing.

"We would therefore recommend an age restriction of 60+ be imposed, in order to fit the existing demographic, whether private or social housing.”

A number of residents have raised concerns over the new apartment plans.

One objector wrote: “A better alternative would be to erect five affordable, two bedroomed dwelling houses to provide accommodation for the same number of people and to better meet the needs of the community.”

Meanwhile, another opposing resident wrote: “The designer lacks the capacity to design something that is at least acceptable, let alone charming or beautiful.”

One opposing resident wrote: “I urge elected members, with hopefully officer support, to extract something from the applicant which architecturally brings a very drab building to life and to obtain a much better and attractive result which everyone could then feel was a good outcome on this particular visually sensitive site in Two Dales.”

However, one resident said: “This is a better use for the site than the previous ‘hostel style’ idea.”

Council officers, recommending approval, wrote: “The town council has raised concern with the potential occupancy of the dwellings and that the properties will become social housing.

“To this end, the town council recommends an age restriction of 60 plus be imposed, in order to fit the existing demographic, whether private or social housing.

“This is considered inappropriate and restrictive on the development, which is clearly designed to provide open market properties at the more affordable end of the market spectrum and there is considered no justification for such a condition in an area of mixed residential development.

“This comment from the town council may reflect upon concerns raised over the previous approval for the conversion of the existing building of a house of multiple occupation, which was in itself deemed acceptable by the district council.

“The proposals make good re-use of this site which has been made redundant by the improved, replacement medical centre and will provide accommodation for a demographic of people seeking to get into the property market or to downsize.”