The fate of a former doctor’s surgery, which sold at auction for more than £150k, has been revealed.

A change-of-use application to turn the old GP’s building in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, into a crown, bridge and implant dental laboratory has been submitted to the council.

Many people hoped that the premises, which sold for £156,000, would be bought back by the NHS to reinstate a medical facility to the area, after it closed last May.

Nearby residents felt that it was a “gold-plated opportunity” for their former doctor, Dr Lavan Nilan Sasikethan, known to patients as Dr Nilan, to return to the village after the old medical centre was moved to its new home in Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital.

However, earlier this month he confirmed he would not be purchasing the doctor’s surgery because it was “too small”.

Following the sale of the building a Gillingham-based company, PJH Ceramics, has put in a change-of-use application to transform the premises into a manufacturing site.

In its letter, which was sent to Swale council by its representative, Planning Clarity, the company said: “The application site has been vacant since August 2022. The existing and lawful use of the application site is as a doctor’s surgery. The existing use has been in existence for over 10 years.

“PJH Ceramics is proposing to operate a manufacturing business at the site, falling within the same class as the existing one.

The letter added that planning rules allow “the permitted change between these uses within the class provided the industrial process can be carried out in any residential area without causing detriment to the amenity of the area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust, or grit.

“London Road comprises a mix of commercial and residential uses. The proposed use can be carried out within this area because it does not generate any amenity issues.”

The document went on: “It is therefore considered that planning permission is not required for the proposed change of use.”

PJH Ceramics has been established for over 30 years and has a modern dental laboratory with a small team of six people full-time.

Four are fully qualified dental technicians, one is an apprentice, and one is administration staff. The company also employs a part-time delivery driver who supplies locally five days a week.

For more information on the application enter 23/502758/LAWPRO into the Swale council planning portal.