UP TO 8,500 new NHS dentist places could be created in York, if a plan due to go before councillors today gets the go-ahead.

Dobson and Associates dental practice, at 107 Lawrence Street, wants to expand into the neighbouring property, a move which would see four new surgery rooms created, and a further four dentists recruited.

Robert Dobson, principal dentist at the practice, said: "It could eventually double the size of the practice," he said."Potentially, we could take on another 8,500 patients, depending on our ability to recruit dentists into the NHS."

He added: "For booking ahead for regular treatment, it's often three to four months, and that's much too long. It's not how we would like to see it, and hopefully this will help to rectify this and put things right."

Mr Dobson stressed the proposals were still at the planning stage, and urged those on NHS waiting lists not to inundate the practice with calls before the application gets the green light.

The move is part of a broader drive by the York and Selby Primary Care Trust. In May, the Evening Press reported the PCT wanted to create 16,000 new NHS places over the next three years.

Applications to convert housing into business properties are often rejected, but City of York Council planning officers say the benefits of increased dental capacity outweigh the small loss of residential property, and have recommended the application be approved.

York's MP, Hugh Bayley today backed the application. He said: "There is such an overwhelming public interest in getting more NHS dentists practices in York that I have written to the council to urge them to approve the application.

"The council's planning policies ought to make provision for adequate premises for NHS health authorities in the city centre.

"That is a good ground to give exceptional provision to turn a residential building into a business premise."

He added: "It is in an ideal location because it is in central York and it is so hard to find central York premises for dental surgeries.

"If this application were turned down I think dentists would find it very difficult to find alternative city centre premises."

Meanwhile, an application has also been submitted by Dr Andrea Ubhi to convert a three-storey house in Bootham into a new practice. She wants to relocate from her current Stonegate premises, to secure increased capacity for her private practice.

The new practice would have five surgery rooms and two new staff, in addition to three relocated from Stonegate. Practice manager Julie Betts said there was a possibility the Stonegate practice could eventually be sold to the NHS if the move to Bootham went ahead.

The PCT's head of primary care development, Denise Smith, said: "We are confident the expansion plans we have in place will ensure that in the future anyone in the Selby and York PCT area who wishes to register with an NHS dentist will be able to do so."

She said the plans were still at an early stage, and it would be several months at least before additional registrations could be offered. In the interim, anyone requiring NHS dental care should phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Updated: 10:12 Thursday, July 14, 2005