A planning application relating to 75 Featherstone Grove has been submitted to Newcastle City Council by Darren Wigg, a resident on Melbury, for a change of use from Class A1/A2 use to a physiotherapy clinic (Class D1). Darren has consulted with the Consortium and with the Residents Association to discuss his proposals.
The planning application is available to view on Newcastle City Council’s website under reference 2010/1198/01/DET (although having checked the site this morning, it seems it is temporarily suspended for maintenance works). Darren has therefore agreed to make his plans available and he can be contacted by email on: darrenwiggphysiotherapy(at)hotmail.com for further information.
This application is quite different to the previous application for a change of use to a nursery for 55 children. I am advised by the City Council that notification letters have been sent out to immediate neighbours who may be affected by the proposals, and that the distribution was not as extensive as the nursery application because the nature of the operation is on a much smaller scale.
Darren intends to reconfigure the ground floor of the building to create two treatment rooms, a reception area, and a rehabilitation area. There will also be a small staff area providing a WC and kitchen. There is likely to be one administration assistant/receptionist who is a family member, and a part-time complimentary therapist offering reflexology, Indian head massage etc., both of whom will be able to park at his own property if necessary. He intends to let the first and second floor maisonette to private tenants solely for residential occupation which has its own separate entrance. The property has two parking spaces allocated to it (the garage and driveway to it), and as he is already a resident on Melbury, he will not require a parking space when at the clinic.
As part of the planning application, Darren has carried out a parking survey around the immediate area to satisfy the Council that there will not be any increased demand for car parking at the site. At the time of his survey, four of the 11 available parking spaces opposite were taken up with skips and builders vehicles, which will of course be released on completion of the building works. The Council’s suggested requirement is for provision of 3 parking spaces per consulting room, and as Darren’s clients in the main reside on Melbury, it is highly unlikely all the parking spaces will be utilised all at the same time.
The practice, to be called NEWCASTLE PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC, will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5 pm, and Saturday half day, closed on Sundays, with two late nights until 8 pm two evenings a week. Consultations will be by appointment only.
The closing date for comments is Thursday 30th September and the officer dealing with the application at the City Council is Susan Cargill on 0191 277 8975 – email: Susan.Cargill(at)Newcastle.gov.uk. The Residents Association have written to the Council in support of this application as they feel a physiotherapy clinic will have a low impact on residents and offers the potential to benefit the estate as whole.