Malpas pharmacy's plans new clinic hits planning hurdles

South Wales Argus

2 days ago

Geoff Thomas, of Malpas Pharmacy applied to convert the space above the shop into a health clinic offering NHS and public health services.
While acknowledging the support of local councillors, Geoff Thomas expressed confusion over objections raised by the council's highways planners.
'We understand the pressures of traffic, we deal with them every day. We're on the frontline managing acute and emergency deliveries,' he said.
Among the concerns raised were issues around parking, cycling provision, and recycling.
The proposed clinic would offer services including independent prescribing, smoking cessation programmes, women's health consultations, and vaccinations. These services align with the Welsh Government's strategy to reduce pressure on GP surgeries and improve access to care in local communities, he noted.
Newport City Council's Highways Department has estimated the clinic would require more than 12 parking spaces, which they claim are not available. However, the pharmacy team has responded with detailed clarifications.
The site is highly accessible, with two bus stops within 100 metres, and a large proportion of patients already walking or using public transport. The new consultation rooms are intended primarily for existing patients, with appointments carefully staggered to reduce peak-time congestion.
To further manage patient flow and minimise short-term parking pressure, the pharmacy will implement clinic management software.
The proposal adds only two consultation rooms and includes adaptations to the existing ground-floor space to better accommodate patients with mobility challenges, ensuring equitable access. Compared to residential use, the clinic would generate less parking demand, with no overnight parking required.
Patients will not remain for extended periods, and the layby and nearby short-stay spaces experience natural turnover throughout the day. The estimate of 12 required spaces appears to assume maximum staff and patient overlap, whereas in practice, only one or two practitioners will be on-site at any given time.
Although the application form did not specify recycling provision, the pharmacy already operates a recycling system, with bins located at the rear of the premises.
Pharmacist Clare McCool in the pharmacy's only consultation room. (Image: NQ)
Pharmacist Clara McCool said, 'We're trying to create a space that makes timely and accessible service easily available. It complements the services of two GP surgeries. It's our attempt at a local solution to a national problem.'
The team believes planning success would help the clinic deliver clear benefits to the community, including improved access to NHS services, reduced waiting times, and convenient care for patients who might otherwise need to travel further.
Geoff Thomas added, 'We want to supporting national healthcare objectives, especially when the NHS is under such pressure. This proposal offers a practical way to ease that burden locally.'
A spokesman for Newport council said: "This application is still going through the planning process and has yet to be determined. All comments received as part of the consultation, and other relevant issues, will be considered in the assessment of the application."
Plans can be viewed on Newport City Council planning portal using reference 25 / 0551.