Plan for medical outpatient unit permitted after initial refusal

Dale Spridgeon, Local Democracy Reporter

A proposal for a medical outpatient unit which applicants claimed could help “reduce pressure” on NHS services has been permitted by planners after initially being refused.

Cyngor Gwynedd agreed to a resubmitted application over the change of use of an existing B1 office unit into mixed use consisting of a medical outpatient unit (use class D1) and office space (class B1) at Parc Menai, near Bangor.

The scheme planned for the Llys Castan building on Ffordd Y Parc had been rejected on November 7, 2024 but was agreed with conditions in a decision made on March 23, 2026, published on the council’s planning portal.

The applicants said the scheme “sought to create a new specialist medical outpatients centre that would go a long way to improving the region’s health infrastructure and reduce pressures on NHS services”.

The plans were submitted by Dr Dylan Parry-Jones of Gorwel Specialist Medical Centre through the agent Sion Roberts of Cadnant Planning.

Reasons for the initial rejection had included being contrary to policies including the release of land on an existing employment safeguarded site, for Use Class B1, B2 or B8 and that permission was only granted in “exceptional circumstances”.

The planning authority had also been “not convinced” that there was no other suitable alternative location.

The applicants had outlined building searches in the area, saying it had demonstrated there were “no suitable buildings in a town centre or edge of centre location that would be suitable”.

They had stated that across North Wales “access to timely and effective healthcare was becoming a growing challenge”.

They added: “From long waiting times and staff shortages to limited access to specialist care, the strain on the NHS in North Wales is becoming increasingly unsustainable.

“This issue not only affects patient outcomes but also places significant pressure on front-line healthcare workers.

“As such there is an urgent need for targeted interventions and long-term investment in the region’s health infrastructure.”

They said the facility could provide specialist services, such as cardiology and dermatology, reduce pressure on services, improve patient access and create employment opportunities.

The centre would also partner with Plan4Health, medical and dental healthcare payment plan specialists.

The first floor would remain as office space (under B1 use class) and was expected to be used by health plan workers.

The ground floor would also see “a suite of modern consultation/ medical rooms” along with storage and waiting rooms.

The unit was described as one of the larger types on Llys Castan comprising a two-storey building with parking.

The unit (14) had previously been used by the Royal Mail as offices and for a Welsh Language call centre, and more recently by RSPB Cymru, whilst the first-floor part of the unit had previously been used as a training centre for the NHS, plans said.

The reasons for the council’s decision to grant permission subject to conditions, included to comply with the town and Country Planning Acts, to ensure the “satisfactory development” of the site, to safeguard visual amenities of the area, to comply with Anglesey and Gwynedd Joint Local Development Plan, 2017 policies and to ensure biodiversity enhancements.