Plans have been approved for a GP surgery in Cardiff to be converted into houses, unless another doctor can take over the practice. Planning documents on Cardiff Council's website show that a decision notice issued on April 26 permits the Corporation Road Surgery in Grangetown to be changed into two houses with private rear gardens.
A document providing justification for the change of use explains that Dr Aly Anwar, a partner at the surgery and the sole owner of the property, wants to retire "in the foreseeable future". It says that he has made enquiries to see if any doctors will buy the building off him and keep running the practice, but "up to this point in time, he has received no interest from any party".
It continues that the change of use application is a "back up" proposal if Dr Anwar, who is still seeking a new owner, is unable to find anyone. The plans include adding a rear dormer extension to the two-storey terraced building. One of the conditions of the development is that the external surface of this dormer matches the appearance of the existing building to maintain the visual amenity of the area. You can read all our latest Cardiff stories here.
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Permission was first granted for the building to be changed from a residential home into a medical practice in 1991. The potential closure of the long-standing practice comes hot on the heels of the closure of another a GP surgery in Grangetown. GP services at Saltmead Medical Centre, which had thousands of registered patients, ceased on February 25. Patients described the closure of the practice, based in Clare Road, as a "big blow" to the heavily-populated community. GP services at Albert Road Surgery in Penarth also came to an end in March, after notification that the landlord had served notice on the building.
