THE demolition of a former doctor’s surgery and its replacement with a block of flats has been approved.

Holton Homes has won permission to knock down the former Kinson Chiropody Surgery buildings at 1 Durdells Avenue and 1628 Wimborne Road and build an 11 flat block with parking.

In its application the developer said: “The doctors surgery at 1 Durdells Avenue has now closed as it is no longer viable in line with NHS recommendations and the need for super surgeries.

“A new development would enhance the neighbourhood & surroundings and would make the best use of the site.”

The application received nine letters of objection from neighbours chiefly concerned about the impact on local roads and parking.

One Durdells Avenue resident, Susan Lawry, said: “There doesn’t even appear to be enough parking allotted for the amount of flats, bearing in mind too that most families, even childless ones, have more than one vehicle. It’s bad enough along here as it is with the school run.

“Getting off our property safely has been awful, with inconsiderate parking, even when it was a doctor’s surgery.”

The scheme includes 10 unallocated parking spaces, which meets council regulations.

With no affordable homes on offer, the developer has agreed to pay a £5,390 levy towards provision elsewhere in the borough.

On the loss of the surgery, a council report by planning officer Charles Raven states that “there are adequate alternative facilities and services available locally that can accommodate the loss of this site”.

The report notes that the amalgamated Kinson Road and Durdells Avenue surgeries are “positioned 700 metres to the east of the application site”.

“Kinson Road Surgery has always been a substantially larger practice and in 2017 absorbed the majority of the former patients from the application site surgery. Some patients have chosen to re-register at Bear Wood Surgery and other neighbouring practices. Subsequently the Durdells site was progressively wound down and closed.”