LISKEARD town councillors have backed plans to turn part of one of the town’s most recognisable historic buildings into a four-surgery dental practice.

Members of the town council’s planning committee supported two applications relating to the proposed conversion of Webb’s House, on The Parade, into a new dental surgery.

The proposals, submitted by Procerus Orthodontics Ltd, would see the ground floor and rear annex of the Grade II listed building converted into a modern dental practice, known as Webb’s House Dental.

Councillors supported both the planning application, PA26/06650, and the associated listed building consent application, PA26/06651, at their latest committee meeting.

However, when considering the main planning application, members highlighted the importance of ensuring the new facility would be accessible to people using the service.

Councillor Simon Cassidy proposed supporting the application with Cllr Annette Lee seconding the motion, which was subsequently carried.

The committee also voted to support the listed building consent application, following a separate proposal from Cllr Cassidy, seconded by Cllr Lee.

The applications seek approval for internal alterations and minor external works to facilitate the conversion, which has previously received planning permission and listed building consent under applications PA26/01845 and PA26/01846.

Webb’s House is a prominent early 19th-century building within the Liskeard Conservation Area, recognised for its classical stuccoed elevations, granite entrance porch and landmark position at The Parade.

The building, designed by architect John Foulston in 1833, originally operated as Webb’s Hotel and later served as a posting house.

It has undergone several changes over the years, including a major fire in 2003 which resulted in extensive restoration work.

Planning documents explain that much of the ground-floor internal fabric, along with several windows and structural elements, dates from the subsequent restoration in the early 2000s. The rear annex is also described as being more utilitarian in character than the main frontage.

The latest proposals have been designed to minimise the impact on the historic building, with most alterations affecting areas which have already been substantially changed.

Documents state that an opening on the Pike Street elevation, which will be affected by the work, is an existing false window rather than an original functioning historic sash window.

The design will retain its established proportions and visual appearance while allowing the necessary ventilation intake to be discreetly incorporated.

The wider conversion plans include four dental surgeries, reception and waiting areas, decontamination rooms, X-ray facilities and staff accommodation.

The only visible external changes are expected to be limited, including ventilation louvres on the rear elevation to support the practice's clinical air systems.

Webb’s House is also familiar to readers of the Cornish Times, having previously housed the newspaper's offices in the Tindle Suite until it moved out in September 2024.

The proposed dental practice would bring a new commercial use to the historic town centre property while retaining its place within Liskeard's architectural landscape.

The town council's support will now be passed to Cornwall Council, which will make the final decisions on both applications.