Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
New life for GP surgeries
Two doctor’s surgeries closed down by health officials after being branded cramped and outdated are set to be transformed into homes.
City council planners have this month given the green light to a bid to transform the now-shut medical centre in Cossington Road, Canterbury, into six flats.
Meanwhile, a proposal has also been lodged with the local authority by developer Una Heywood to convert the former London Road surgery back into a four-floor house.
Both sites have been empty since February, after Canterbury Medical Practice moved into its state-of-the-art site at the K&C Hospital.
Papers submitted by Ms Heywood say: “The new surgery provides a much larger facility with additional capacity for the city’s anticipated growth.
“London Road was closed after it was considered sub-standard.
“It had poor accessibility, with no lift to the first floor and restricted wheelchair access throughout the building.
“The property also had very limited car parking, which further reduced accessibility to those with limited mobility.
“It was not considered economically viable to convert the building to make it accessible and fit for purpose.”
Upon completion, the new Canterbury Medical Practice building became the largest of its type in the city, catering for 15,000 patients.
The Care Quality Commission previously deemed both Cossington House and London Road “challenged” to deliver primary care services or cope with the expected increase in patient numbers from new housing developments.
The latter continued to function as a surgery until February, while the other stopped hosting appointments last year.
Cossington House was most recently used for commercial purposes – but plans to change it into a block of flats were revealed in August after the building was sold off.
The bid attracted two objections from neighbours, but was waved through this month.