Former surgery to be turned into family homes

Blundell Park Surgery closed in 2022

Plans have been approved to turn a former doctor's surgery back into family homes.

Two three-bedroom properties will be built at the site of the former Blundell Park Surgery on Grimsby Road in Cleethorpes.

Plans to convert the surgery, which closed in 2022, were recommended to be refused due to flood risk concerns highlighted by the Environment Agency (EA).

However, councillors approved the plans at a North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) planning meeting on Wednesday, on condition more detail on flood risk measures are provided.

'Certain illogicality'

The EA requested a 1.3m (4.3ft) increase of the ground floor level which was not possible due to building regulations, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The meeting was warned that, if the application was refused, it would "send a very strong message” to nearby householders and insurance companies that the area’s houses were a "danger to life" and "worthless".

Councillor Bill Parkinson said there was a "certain illogicality" about the recommended refusal.

"They have been houses generations before. It’s not a new situation, it’s just reverting back to what it was.

"If it was refused, then you’ve simply got two houses that will go into dilapidation," he said.

Councillor Sophia Farren submitted a written statement which detailed a "social need for attractive housing for families".

She also said she would "wholeheartedly support" a condition limiting bedrooms to the upper floor only to alleviate flood concerns.

The plans were approved seven votes to four.

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