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A family’s plan to convert a former GP surgery into a new home has been refused by Caerphilly County Borough Council planning officers.

The proposal for Deri Medical Centre, on Riverside Walk, was rejected because it failed to “provide a comparable replacement facility, on or off the site, and it has not been demonstrated the facility is surplus to requirements”.

It was also rejected on flooding grounds.

The GP surgery was closed down in 2023, with a health board public meeting hearing the decision was taken “in the interest of sustainability”.

The surgery’s clinical staff and nearly 800 patients were transferred to other health centres in the surrounding area.

Applicant Nicola Dent had requested planning permission to convert the former surgery for residential use, with internal “cosmetic changes” to the layout.

In her application, she said the property had been “vacant for a few years”.

No objections were raised during a recent public consultation period.

But council planners said they had to consider whether “the loss of a community facility is justified” – even in this case, where the surgery had closed down.