A former family butcher shop in Surbiton which ran for over 50 years has been granted a change of use to a dental surgery by Kingston Council.

CD Jennings & Sons Family Butcher, which closed 1 August 2022, is to become part of The Smile Centre dental practice, next door to the store on Ewell Road.

The planning application also proposed the demolition of existing pitched roof and erection of stepped flat roof extension, an installation of four roof lights and eight solar panels.

Proposed roof changes. (Photo: Kingston Council Planning document)

It also proposed a roof extension of a decreased height of 1.8m. The rear aspect of the roof extension would therefore have a set back from the front elevation of 4.5m.

While officers acknowledged the height of this aspect of the extension would be slightly higher than the existing ridge line, it would not be clearly visible in the street scene due to its set back.

Changes to the window layout of the shop front were also proposed. The planning officer stated this alteration "would not be incongruous" as Ewell Road has various different forms of window layouts.

They added: "The submitted plans and elevation demonstrate that the brick aspect of the facade would be maintained and would have a uniform appearance to the adjoining store fronts original features."

A planning officer commented that the changes would have no adverse impact on the character or the appearance of the area as a result of the proposed development.

The special architectural and historic interest of this area can be summarised as a Regency and early Victorian linear housing development made up of two separate areas Oakhill Conservation Area.

Planning officers concluded: "The proposed development would not result in any harm to the significance of the Oakhill Conservation Area, but rather preserve it by maintaining the facade of the store [and]… the character of the immediate surrounding area."

It added: "Given no harm to heritage assets has been identified in this case, it is not necessary to weigh up the proposals against any public benefits."

The planning application was received 6 June 2023. At the time of writing no neighbours had put forward any comment.