A busy surgery in Upper Norwood will build four “desperately needed” new consulting rooms.

Last week Croydon Council approved plans for an extension at Upper Norwood Group Practice in Church Road.

The plans received 24 public comments half for and half against.

Concerns raised included over development of the site and the extension not being in keeping with nearby buildings.

But comments in favour included the need to accommodate more patients.

The revamp of the site includes the demolition of an existing single storey extension replacing it with a two storey extension – This will accommodate four extra consulting rooms.

A statement from the surgery said it current;y has 12,500 registered patients, a list that has grown on average by 500 a year since 2007.

It adds:  “We now desperately require more rooms to continue providing adequate appointments to our patients.

“We have a growing list size and simply don’t have enough rooms to provide a safe, preventative care that we would like to.”

The plans were give the green light by the council’s planning sub-committee on Thursday, November 8 and work on the site must start in the next three years.