A CHIROPRACTIC clinic has been refused permission to open in an office block outside a town centre as clients would likely attend by car.
Charlotte Fox, who runs Fox Chiropractic, needed change of use planning permission so she could operate from an office block and allow her clinic to expand to larger premises.
But her application was denied by council planners who said significant new health and public services, as well as commercial, retail and education facilities, must be located in town or city centres.
Ms Fox had wanted to move her clinic to office units at Lakeside Court in Llantarnam on the outskirts of Cwmbran.
Torfaen Borough Council said the location wasn’t suitable and also rejected the application as it would have resulted in the loss of office space without any justification for a departure from policy.
Cwmbran town centre
Her application stated a number of units in the Cwmbran Centre had been considered but discounted including due to the cost of adapting them and limited opportunities to buy outright in the shopping centre, as she intended, to ensure “security of tenure.”
Planning officer Simon Pritchard said before looking for existing industrial units and office space Ms Fox should have considered relocating to one of Cwmbran’s neighbourhood shopping centres.
He also said her application, as well as being at odds with policies intended to support town centres would likely encourage the use of private motor vehicles.
Though it was acknowledged there are bus stops nearby and good footpaths serving the site it was stated its separation from surrounding homes by industrial buildings, roads and green space, along with the industrial use of the area, would “likely discourage” customers from walking or cycling. It was also noted that while the clinic required client parking, no details showing storage for bicycles was provided.
Mr Pritchard, whose report refused the application, stated: ” It is considered that the proposed location is unsuitable and would encourage the use of private motor vehicles.”
He also said the application hadn’t included detailed reports to show there was a sufficient office space to justify an alternative use or evidence that other sites had been considered.
“The location of the proposed development would not be justified when taking into account national and local planning policies that seek to deliver the principles of ‘town centres first’, and which seek to protect the employment function of existing employment areas,” said Mr Pritchard.