Planning application submitted to turn former Topsham surgery into nursery

A planning application has been submitted to Exeter City Council to turn a former GP surgery into a day nursery.

The property at 19 Fore Street, formerly known as Chapel Platt Surgery, has been the subject of local interest since its closure over a decade ago. The surgery closed its doors in May 2013 following a merger with Topsham Surgery, a move attributed to NHS funding changes. 

While media reports from 2013 mark the end of the building's use as a medical practice, the council has noted a lack of formal records regarding its status since then. 

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A council spokesperson told Exeter Today: “The Local Planning Authority does not hold any records confirming when the doctor’s surgery last operated from these premises.”

At the time, it was stated that the practice had been subject to a reduction in funding over several years and faced additional regulatory requirements, including Care Quality Commission standards linked to the age of the building.

The merger enabled nearly 2,000 GP patients in Topsham to continue receiving treatment, with doctors transferring to the Fore Street practice. 

The move was described at the time as improving access to healthcare services for local patients.

As of 2026, that means the Chapel Platt building has been empty or repurposed for approximately 12 years since it ceased operating as a GP practice.

“The length of vacancy is not, in itself, a determinative planning consideration,” the spokesperson added.

“The Council supports the principle of unoccupied buildings being brought back into use by appropriate and policy-compliant uses; this application provides the opportunity to assess whether the proposed nursery use is suitable for the location.”

The application to convert the former surgery into a nursery was received on 13 February 2026 and validated on 18 February 2026.

It is currently out for public consultation, with residents able to submit comments until 22 March 2026.

The council has set a target determination date of 16 April 2026.