New dental practice proposed for disused town centre retail space

A planning application to allow a dental practice to open in an disused retail space in the town centre has been submitted to Stockport Council.

The change of use application proposes allowing the shop unit at 87-91 Princes Street in the town centre to be converted to a dental practice. The unit, currently vacant, had previously been occupied by the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline charity shop.

Designs for the dental practice, drawn up by NVDC Architects, propose eight treatment rooms across the ground and first floor, with the second floor given over to stockrooms and staff changing facilities. The dental practice will add further capacity for Stockport residents to access dentistry, in particular for those set to live in the numerous residential property developments being forward in the town centre with support from Stockport MDC in the Town Centre West area.

The planning application also seeks permission to undertake the necessary external and internal renovations necessary to complete the conversion for the site from a retail store to a dental practice.

Should the change of use be granted by Stockport Council, it will continue the trend of the town embracing a more mixed selection of occupiers in town centre properties, which has diversified away from a retail-led offer in recent years. Changes taking place include the Redrock leisure and entertainment development, as well as conversions of disused retail units in the town centre, including the Stockroom library and community hub currently in development, as well as commercial schemes such as Stok, in the former M&S store, and the Merseyway Innovation Centre, which launched earlier this year.

Stockport Council is expected to decide whether or not to allow the proposals to go ahead by December 2023.