ALTON, Hampshire — Hundreds of new NHS dental places are now available in Alton, following a major expansion of services funded by contributions from local housing developments.
Alton Dental, located on Anstey Road, has significantly increased its capacity after receiving £210,000 in developer contributions—with £190,000 coming from East Hampshire District Council and £20,000 from Alton Town Council.
The funding has enabled the practice to expand into an adjacent vacant property, opening up more than 600 new NHS patient places and 500 annual emergency appointments. These emergency slots are intended for patients referred by the NHS 111 service, typically suffering from toothache, trauma, or other urgent dental issues.
Developer contributions, including the Community Infrastructure Levy, are payments made by housing developers to support essential local infrastructure and services as new homes are built.
Practice owner Hardeep Safri said the funding was key to making the expansion possible.
“I am very grateful to East Hampshire District Council and Alton Town Council for supporting this project,” he said. “There is a huge demand for NHS dental care, but creating space and capacity is often very complex. These contributions allowed us to develop a much-needed facility for the Alton community.”
Councillor Angela Glass, East Hampshire District Council’s portfolio holder for regulation and enforcement, which includes planning, said the initiative reflects the district’s strategic approach to growth.
“The government has set high housing targets for East Hampshire, especially outside the South Downs National Park,” she said. “As the number of homes increases, it’s essential that developer contributions support vital infrastructure—including healthcare.
“This is exactly the kind of project these funds are meant for. It’s wonderful to see Alton Dental expanding and taking on more NHS patients. We’re fortunate to have an NHS training practice in town that’s able to grow in this way. My thanks go to Hardeep and his team for making it happen.”
The expansion represents a major boost for NHS dental provision in the area at a time when access to care remains a growing concern across the UK.