Plans to expand a business park near Norwich could bring a much-needed NHS dental surgery to one of the county's fastest-growing towns.
Under fresh proposals submitted to South Norfolk Council, Elm Farm Business Park in Wymondham could be expanded to include an additional 18 commercial units and a building earmarked for a dental surgery.
The latter could also include space for a medical practice and a pharmacy in the business park, which is off Norwich Common and close to the town's northern junction for the A11.
Early engagement with the community has raised questions about whether the site would be used by the NHS.
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Documents from Elm Farm Properties Ltd & Eastern PS Limited state: "The application which we wish to bring forward offers a lot of flexibility for different options to give the proposal the best chance for success as an NHS dentist.
"We have reached out to the NHS and unfortunately whilst a lot of work locally has been undertaken in terms of the future of NHS dentistry and training, there is no new provision locally of dentist surgeries, despite the undeniable ‘need’ locally and across Norfolk.
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"The indications given are that a planning application needs to be undertaken before any meaningful discussions about NHS dentists could possibly take place."
Local politicians have warned of a shortage of infrastructure in and around Wymondham, with many arguing an ever-growing population is pushing the area to breaking point.
Some have even called for developers to stop building until they can provide a solution to help prevent locals being pushed out of GPs, dentists and schools.
In the 10 years from 2001 to 2011, Wymondham’s population grew by 15pc from 12,539 to 14,405.
By 2020, almost 17,000 were estimated to be living in the market town - with hundreds more homes still on the way and nearby Hethersett also rapidly expanding.
The towns are included in the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) - a blueprint that could see up to 50,000 new homes in Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland by 2038.
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