The outline application, submitted by Phil Johnston, proposed the construction of a privately funded NHS doctor’s surgery with two local occupancy apartments above on land at Lands Field, Yewdale Road.
The application was registered on July 18, 2025, and withdrawn on September 25, 2026.
Despite widespread recognition of the need to secure the future of GP services in Coniston, planning officers recommend refusing the scheme.
Since the proposal was submitted, the future of Coniston’s GP services has been secured following the opening of a new branch site of the Central Lakes Medical Group at Wraysdale House on July 1, 2026.
The Yewdale Road scheme was put forward as a long-term solution for healthcare provision in the village when the previous doctor at Wraydale House intended to retire and there was uncertainty over whether a replacement GP would be able to purchase the existing premises.
The Yewdale Road proposal involved a two-storey building containing a doctor’s surgery on the ground floor and two two-bedroom local occupancy flats above.
Plans indicated the surgery would include consultation rooms, a treatment room, waiting area, reception, accessible toilet and staff facilities.
The applicant argued the apartments were necessary to make the development financially viable.
The application attracted both support and objections during the consultation process.
Coniston Parish Council backed the principle of the development, provided no work started until a long-term arrangement had been secured for the housing and a contract was in place for NHS GP services to operate from the surgery.
Coniston Patients Group also said it fully supported the proposal, describing it as a viable way of enabling GP services to continue and thrive in the village.
However, concerns were raised by several consultees.
The Local Highway Authority objected to the access arrangements, saying patients and visitors would have to cross the adjacent approved car park.
It said a separate direct access should be provided and warned that vulnerable surgery users could be placed at risk.
The authority also said adequate parking should be provided within the development site itself.
The Lead Local Flood Authority said the proposal was acceptable in principle but required a site-specific flood risk assessment and drainage strategy to demonstrate that surface water could be managed safely without increasing flood risk elsewhere.
United Utilities similarly raised concerns that drainage details had not been fully resolved and requested further information before planning permission was granted.
The strongest objections came from Sport England, Coniston Cricket Club and Friends of the Lake District.
Sport England said the development could prejudice the continued use of the neighbouring cricket ground because of the risk of cricket balls striking people, vehicles or buildings.
It maintained an objection unless appropriate mitigation measures could be demonstrated.
A specialist ball-strike assessment concluded fencing up to 14 metres high could be required in places to protect the proposed surgery and apartments.
Friends of the Lake District questioned whether the site was appropriate for a surgery, suggested alternative buildings within the village should be considered and argued the development could further harm views and landscape character around Coniston.
The group also called for a full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.
A planning officer’s report prepared for the authority’s Development Control Committee recommended refusal of the application.
While officers accepted the principle of a GP surgery and local occupancy housing in the village, the report concluded there was insufficient evidence to show the development could coexist safely with the neighbouring cricket club without affecting its operation.
The report stated that it had not been demonstrated that mitigation measures could be delivered appropriately or that normal cricket activity could continue without restriction if the development went ahead.
As a result, officers recommended refusal before the application was subsequently withdrawn.