A TEMPORARY extension to North Petherton's doctors’ surgery can remain in place after retrospective permission was granted.

North Petherton Surgery, on Church Walk, was one of 14 GP surgeries which Somerset health bosses identified in September 2020 would need to either expand or relocate in light of local housing growth.

The Somerset NHS Foundation Trust installed two Portakabins in the surgery grounds to provide additional capacity – one in 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic, and one in early-2024.

Somerset Council has now ruled these Portakabins can remain in place until July 2029 if needed – by which time a new medical centre may have been provided as part of a planned housing development.

The modular buildings were designed to provide additional capacity at a surgery which now has 6,000 registered patients – twice as many as it was originally designed to accommodate.

Read more: North Petherton Surgery is the most oversubscribed in Somerset 

North Petherton has seen significant housing growth over the last ten years, with the delivery of the Wilstock and Stockmoor estates on the southern edge of Bridgwater (within the parish of North Petherton) and additional housing on its own edges, with three developments near the rugby club at various stages of delivery.

Additional housing is expected to come forward in the coming years on the Bridgwater Gateway site near junction 24 of the M5, with Somerset Council approving plans for a combined total of 511 homes.

A spokesman for the trust said: “The surgery originally had the first of these buildings installed in 2021 under permitted development rights.

“The building provided relief to the cramped facilities within the main building.

“The surgery took on the second building earlier this year in order to free up additional space within the surgery for patient care.

“The buildings have been on site for some time and have caused no disruption to neighbours or the running of the surgery.

“This expansion will allow the surgery to continue to operate at full capacity, with the Portakabin buildings being used as additional office space for administrative staff.”

Somerset Council approved the plans through the dedicated powers of its planning officers, rather than through a planning committee.

West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. teased proposals in November 2023 to deliver a new medical centre as part of a wider housing development between the A38 Taunton Road and Park Lane, which would also include a purpose-built scout and brownie hut with on-site parking and a new cricket pitch at the eastern edge of the site.

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans spoke in favour of the proposals during the initial public consultation – though no formal planning application has yet been submitted.

Speaking in November 2023, he said: “This area is not identified in the Local Plan, but it could potentially get consent because it would deliver a replacement North Petherton health centre and other community facilities for the scouts and sports clubs.

“The opportunity to provide a new site for North Petherton surgery would unlock potential for it’s expansion and improved services, ensuring that these facilities remain in North Petherton in the long term for the benefit of all local residents.”