A BURNLEY dental practice is to undergo a massive expansion which will lead to 12,000 NHS places being created in the borough.

Integrated Dental Holdings is to convert a house next door to its Padiham Road surgery a year after a similar scheme was rejected.

Catriona Logan, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust's (PCT) director of service provision today hailed the decision by Burnley Council's development control committee to approve the plans.

She said: "We really are delighted the planning application has been granted and the practice can at long last get on with its plans to provide NHS provision for people in Burnley.

"It has been frustrating to be delayed with our plans for the town, but they are now under way and we are hoping to bring a major advance in NHS dental provision."

The surgery, which already caters for 3,000 NHS patients, aims to complete the expansion by next summer.

Initially 8,000 NHS slots will be created and the practice hopes to employ another four surgeons creating a further 4,000 places.

The expansion is part of the PCT's drive to create an extra 20,000 NHS places throughout the borough within two years, which will also see dentists based in the new town centre health and leisure centre.

It comes just weeks after two practices decided to go private with the loss of more than 4,000 places.

Last year a similar plan was rebuffed by councillors because of parking concerns. The new development will increase the number of guaranteed parking spaces from three to 15.

The extra allocation will be phased in gradually and patients will not be able to register directly with the surgery.

Mrs Logan added: "That is the only fair and even-handed way to give people access, and it will be strictly observed."

To request a NHS dental place people should contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.