Planning & Environment Decisions Wales has rejected an appeal against Bridgend Council’s decision to deny planning permission for a chiropractic clinic at Brackla Industrial Estate (pdf).
In May 2022, Bridgend Council’s Planning Committee voted 10-3 to reject the proposal to open a clinic at business starter units at the former Caitlin’s Kitchen/Brackla Break.
At the time, planning officers argued the clinic would be out of kilter with land use policies for the industrial estate. They also argued the development would require highway alterations that weren’t submitted as part of the proposal.
The planning inspector decided the application couldn’t be refused on highway safety grounds. They weren’t convinced it would lead to significant overspill parking, while local roads were good enough to handle movements to and from the site.
However, the planning inspector upheld the council’s objection that the proposal would go against planning policies.
Policies at a national and local level presume against non-employment units being located on industrial estates and business parks unless they would be used by employees and customers (for example, a creche).
It was argued the clinic wouldn’t be heavily used by nearby employees and would attract customers and clients from a wider area. Therefore, it could be located in any building with the right planning class.
