Plans have been unveiled to double the size of a Blackheath dental surgery to address growing patient demand. Bhandal Dental Practice, located on Birmingham Road, has submitted an application to Sandwell Council for permission to expand into the town's former Barclays bank.
Expansion Details
The proposed expansion would increase the number of surgery rooms from eight to 16, along with larger waiting areas, additional offices, and enhanced storage facilities. A statement accompanying the application highlighted the challenges of accessing NHS dental care in Blackheath, noting that many practices are at full capacity or not accepting new patients.
“Bhandal Dental Practice has historically operated at capacity, highlighting high demand in the immediate area,” the statement read. “Increasing the footprint of the practice with the creation of eight more surgeries will support the ever-increasing need for high-quality NHS dentistry provision for local people.”
Previous Plans Scrapped
Dr. Baljit Bhandal, who submitted the application, had previously received approval from Sandwell Council in 2024 to convert the former bank into six two-bedroom flats. However, that work was never carried out. The earlier plans described the location as making an “encouraging first impression” for Blackheath and noted high demand for top-end self-contained units for young professionals.
The new proposal includes a two-storey extension that would connect the existing dental surgery to the former bank building. The former Barclays branch closed in April 2023 as part of a series of closures by the bank, which cited a shift to online banking. Barclays stated that only two customers in Blackheath used the Birmingham Road branch as their sole banking method.
The expansion aims to alleviate pressure on local NHS dental services and provide much-needed capacity for the community.
