NHS dental services in Grantham town centre look set for a boost after council planners approved a new clinic.

Yorkshire-based Trinity House Orthodontists has received planning approval from South Kesteven District Council for a new centre in the Isaac Newton Shopping Centre.

The applicant says the move means NHS orthodontic care will now be available in the centre of Grantham.

Planning officers agreed with the company that the new practice will also help revitalise Grantham town centre.

They approved Trinity's application to convert a vacant shop at 38 Isaac Newton Shopping Centre into an orthodontist practice.

Both the applicant and the council noted the 152m2 premises had been empty for two years despite extensive marketing.

A council report also said changes in the use of town centres means looking at rationalising retail space and diversifying the use of available buildings.

Bringing an empty shop back into use would benefit the town centre and have no adverse impacts, it continued.

Trinity House said in their application, submitted in October, that their clinic would add to NHS dental care in Grantham and would offer NHS orthodontic care which it said was not currently available in the town centre.

Some 40 patients would on average be expected to be treated each day and six full-time jobs would also be created. The centre would open from 8am to 7.30pm weekdays and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

The location between the O2 telephone store and the Cinco Lounge was also 'sustainable', being convenient for public transport.

Trinity House also said they have operated in Yorkshire since 1997 and the Grantham practice would be their first move into Lincolnshire, which they would hope to expand further.