A former GP surgery which closed more than two years ago could be turned into a four-bed house.
Beech Grove Surgery, on The Mall, in Brading, was closed in April 2020.
4,500 patients had to transfer
It was the town’s only surgery and the closure left more than 4,500 patients having to transfer to other facilities as its partner surgery in Lake closed at the same time.
The husband and wife GP team who ran the practices, Drs Anitha Ande and Vyasa Akundi, said they could no longer cope with the rising demand and decreasing resources.
No alternatives came forward
Hundreds of people signed a petition to ask that medical facilities stayed in the local areas.
The then Isle of Wight NHS Clinical Commissioning Group tried to find alternative provision, but no one came forward.
Converted in 1983
The property was a house until around 1983 when it was turned into a doctors’ surgery.
Work started to transform the Victorian villa earlier this year, but has not been finished.
The building has permission to be used as a surgery, but the application is seeking to turn it into a house.
No interest shown in continued use of building
Planning documents submitted by the applicant, Mr J. Reynolds, say no interest was shown by Brading Town Council or other commercial enterprises to purchase the building for alternative community use.
It is said the building was at risk of remaining empty and failing into a poor state of repair but was sold last year, ensuring its future and presence along The Mall.
Four-bedroom home
The building was up for sale with a guide price of £475,000, and pictures from the Hose Rhodes Dickson listing show medical equipment, tables and chairs were left behind.
Plans show the house would have four bedrooms, family room, study, snug and hobby room.
As a GP practice, the facility had seven surgery rooms, four offices and a boardroom.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 22/02088/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal.
The public consultation runs until 4th January.
Article edit
6pm 7th Dec 2022 – Correction from four to two years
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
