A BUILDING in the St Austell conservation area could once again be used as a dental practice if a planning application is approved.

A change of use application has been submitted to Cornwall Council for a property in Truro Road.

Laurence Associates has put in the application on behalf of Florence Phillips who wants to change the use of the building from a dental surgery to mixed use – a dental surgery with accommodation above.

Laurence Associates has told the council the building is in a state of disrepair, saying: “In this case, the applicant seeks to invest in the building to enhance its internal and external condition and allow the building to function as a business/dentist, with accommodation above.

“The existing building exists as a dental practice, although at present the building does not currently function as one due to the relocation of the previous business.

“The building is spread over three floors, with the ground floor being the reception area, and the first and second host to former surgeries. A small loft space exists above.

“The proposed development consists of retaining the existing dentist practice and surgery but with accommodation provided above. The ground floor will be slightly reconfigured to allow for a reception area, office, decontamination room, toilet and two surgery/clinic rooms.

“The first floor layout shall be internally altered to allow for accommodation. A toilet, lounge, dining room and kitchen are proposed at this floor. The second floor will also provide for accommodation, with three bedrooms and a bathroom.”

In a separate planning application, permission is being sought to extend the North Hill Park Nursing Home in St Austell.

The scheme includes the conversion of owner's accommodation to create seven additional bedrooms, a rehabilitation therapy room, a kitchen, an additional communal sitting room, two areas of external amenity space for use as gardens, and the formation of an elevated corridor to connect to the existing first floor main corridor, staircase and lift. A two-storey extension to the main building would be for a new ground floor administration office and a replacement bedroom at first floor level.