The owner of a dental company is looking to get his teeth into a new site - and is keen on filling a former supermarket in the heart of the town centre.

Plans would see the ex-Iceland store in East Street, Faversham, transformed into a dental practice.

Since closing in September last year, the frozen food shop has stood boarded up and empty.

Now, an application to open a six-room surgery, which would take NHS patients, has been submitted by Dr Ashkan Pitchforth to Swale Borough Council.

Dr Pitchforth founded Dumbledore Dental Care - which trades as South Cliff Dental Care - in 2015 after qualifying from Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Dental School in 2009.

He wanted to create a group of practices which “puts patients’ interests at its heart”.

The proposed surgery would employ 10 people, and would open from 8am until 6pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am until 5pm on Saturdays.

The name - should the application be given the go ahead by Swale’s planning committee - would be kept simple as Faversham Dental Care.

“There is significant under-provision of NHS dental practices accepting new NHS patients in Faversham..." - Dr Ashkan Pitchforth

It would be part of a network of 15 other services across Sussex, Hampshire and Wiltshire, which provide appointments for both NHS and private patients.

In his application, Dr Pitchforth urged the council’s committee members to make a decision “as soon as possible” in the hope of opening the practice imminently.

He wrote: “There is significant under-provision of NHS dental practices accepting new NHS patients in Faversham.

“We are seeking for the approval for planning consent to be granted for us to open an a six-surgery dental practice in this proposed site.

“There will only be internal modifications only to get the practice set up.

“We would be grateful if this could be dealt with as soon as possible in order to allow us to commence building works at the premises and be ready in time for the proposed opening day.”

The application has yet to be discussed by Swale council’s planning committee and it is not known when a decision will be made.

To view plans, use reference 19/506069/FULL on the authority’s planning site.

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