NHS DENTAL PRACTICE TO INJECT NEW LIFE INTO FORMER BARCLAYS BANK IN RYDE

A 10-surgery dental practice could soon open in the former Barclays bank building in the heart of Ryde.

Simon Bola of Damira Dental Studios Ltd has applied to the Isle of Wight Council for a change of use of part of the upper floors of 7-8 High Street to allow the whole building to be used as a dental practice.

The ground floor and basement of the now empty 3-storey property housed a branch of Barclays Bank until 2022. The upper floors were previously used as office and residential space, but the applicant is hoping to convert a flat into 2 surgeries.

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A Planning Statement prepared by the Alex Munday Planning consultancy on behalf of the dental care provider said:

“This application seeks to provide a dental surgery to meet increased demand in the face of rising challenges for the NHS.

“In October 2023, BUPA decided to sell their practice in Ryde because they could no longer fulfil their NHS dental contract.

“Many other dental practices on the Isle of Wight have also done the same, resulting in a severe lack of NHS dental care on the Island for the local population.

“The NHS is releasing more units of dental activity on the Isle of Wight to fill the gap left by the dental practices that have returned their contracts.

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“The contract for the Ryde area would require a ten-surgery practice and this is why Damira Dental have purchased the building as it is the only site in the area big enough for ten surgeries.”

The consultancy said 10 extra treatment rooms would provide improved NHS services for the local community with facilities built to meet the ‘high standards expected by all patients’.

Founded in 2003, Damira Dental Studios has 42 practices across the UK, including on Melville Street in Ryde and in East Cowes.

A public consultation on the application will finish on 31st January and a council decision is expected on 10th February.