Historic building could be new dental practice

A historic town centre building lying redundant in Barnstaple could be transformed into a dental practice.

Stardent Ltd, a local company, wants to use all four floors, including the basement, of what was once the North Devon Dispensary at 75 Bouport Street.

The Grade II-listed building was last used as a hairdressing salon with residential accommodation on the fourth floor.

In a statement to North Devon Council, the agents for Stardent, David Wilson Partnership, said the building is in poor condition and needs urgent work.

“After the last hairdressing business ceased its activity, the building appears in state of abandonment, with many leftover fixtures and fittings left behind in a disrepair state and some walls and ceilings partially demolished,” they said.

“The property is in urgent need of renovation, improvement and repair in order to accommodate the needs of the proposed new use and also to secure a longer lifespan for the building.”

New double-glazed sash windows will be installed that give the appearance of  originals.

Internal changes include sub-dividing two first-floor rooms and reorganising the main room on the ground floor.

All proposed modifications are required for the dental practice and won’t significantly affect the overall existing plan, keeping the building’s character intact, the agents claim.

They said the proposed works are minor and will have no negative impact on the street scene.

At a North Devon Council meeting about dentistry last year, councillors spoke of their frustrations at the lack of provision in the district.

Councillor John Patrinos (Ind, Lynton and Lynmouth) said any dentist opening in the area was a good thing but he hoped more would offer NHS appointments.

More than 6,000 people are currently on dental NHS waiting lists in North Devon and Torridge, nearly 2,000 of whom are children.

Cllr Patrinos said most dentists could not afford to offer only NHS services because they would “go bust.” He said the government’s “strange payment system” means dentists receive the same payment from the NHS for a patient who requires 10 fillings as for a patient who needs just one.”