AN APPEAL has been launched after plans to turn a doctor’s surgery in Flintshire into housing were refused.

An application was entered by the owners of The Nook Surgery in Bagillt during February in order to change its use.

It follows the closure of the GP practice to move its services to a new facility created by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

However, officers from Flintshire Council’s planning department turned down the proposals because of the building being located in a flood risk zone.

Dr Nabaz Shamas has now filed an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in a bid to have their decision overturned.

In documents submitted along with the appeal, he said: “The property is no longer needed as a surgery as the health board has built a new health centre.

“This was beyond our control. It is joined to a residential property and we believe it was residential prior to becoming a surgery.

“On consulting planning prior to applying for change of use there was no suggestion that this would not be allowed, but were told as it would reduce traffic that it would be viewed positively.”

In its decision notice, the local authority said the change could not go ahead as it was considered to be a ‘highly vulnerable’ development.

Planning officer Daniel McVey also said the flood risks had not been adequately assessed.

He said: “The site lies within flood risk zone C2.

“Both Technical Advice Note 15 and policy EWP17 of the Flintshire Unitary Development Plan advise that new development should be directed away from zone C and towards suitable land in zone A, otherwise to zone B, where river or coastal flooding will be less of an issue.

“It should only be permitted within zone C1 if determined to be justified in that location according to a series of tests.

“The absence of a flood consequences assessment for the proposed development raises significant concerns because the flood risks to the residential development have not been assessed against the requirements of TAN 15.

“In any event the proposal would not comply with either the requirements of TAN15 or EWP17.”

The appeal will be decided by a planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Government at a later date.