Planning permission for practice in UK

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Hi all,

I am thinking of purchasing a residential property for part use as a small private practice. Can anyone help with regards to any planning or building issues that may prevent this? I live in the UK

 

Re: planning permission for practice

You need to search your local council planning and building control for change of use regulations and if you are in any doubt about your change of use make an appointment to speak to a planning officer.

This one from shepway dist council where I live will give you a good idea http://www.shepway.gov.uk/content/view/200608/204/

Regards Dave Smith

 

Re: planning permission for practice

Hi fluffpinkkitten & :welcome: to Podiatry Arena,

After issues with repairs not being made by my landlord in my rented premises two & a half years ago I looked into the feasibility of converting part of our house to use as a business.

I am in South Yorkshire & Doncaster councils planning services were the ones who dealt with the application. Initially I rang them & they advised I would need an architect to provide drawings as structural changes were also required. The architect was really good & dealt with all the communication with building/planning. A planning application notice was posted locally & all surrounding neighbours were contacted by the authorities to see if they had any cause for concern on the proposed change of use.

Highways dept. were also contacted to see if the proposed clinic would potentially cause problems with residential parking etc.

Planning approval took around 8 months before work could commence. If alterations are required I would advise you ask the architect to recommend a reliable builder. The one recommended to me by the architect was known to the council & had previously completed approved work. This made each stage less stressfull as he knew the building control officer who visited at each stage of building/alteration. It would have been much cheaper to have friends in the building industry to complete the work but that could also have delayed completion considerably.

The project took a year to complete from application to clinic opening. I also needed planning permission to erect a sign advertising the clinic.

For me this has been a very successful move. Now I have total control of repairs etc. & without lining the landlords pocket.

All the very best with your project.

Kind regards,

Mandy.

 

Re: planning permission for practice

Hi

Residential Parking is an issue with all councils.

If you have a neighbor object on the parking issue you may have a fight on your hands, been there seen it done it,BUT ever so glad I did.

That was 23 years ago and I have never looked back.

Good luck with it, Twirly and Dave have given you sound advice :drinks

Cheers
Derek

 

Re: planning permission for practice

:dizzy:Wow....thanks everyone! Im thinking of buying a property which has around 8 parking spaces....not much conversion needed either....just general tidyup and wash basins...this has been really helpful!

 

Re: planning permission for practice

8 parking spaces ???

Just a further bit of advice, Make sure you can bring your dream into reality and that what you have in mind is achievable and affordable which will depend on the amount of patients coming through your door.

It's not the NHS, market forces will apply so your fee structure will have a bearing on your patient flow and therefore your running costs and personal income will be paid only from that flow of patients.

Assuming you have one vehicle, I cant call to mind any practice I know that needs 7 patient parking spaces unless it is in a multidisciplinary practice situation, but then perhaps that is what you have in mind.

Anyway, be careful and be lucky:drinks


Cheers
D