Dr Akhtar Zeb Jan has applied to open the surgery in Wellingborough Road.

He has said the private clinic will provide services such as treatment for patients with 'dental fear', which are currently not available in Northampton.

During a meeting of Northampton Borough Council's planning committee, he told councillors the creation of the surgery would stop people having to travel to other cities for treatment.

He said: "This is not just a dental surgery, it's something that's not available in Northampton at the moment.

"I've been a consultant at Northampton General Hospital and I know what's needed in Northampton to stop people having to go to London or Birmingham."

In a letter to the authority, he also explained the surgery would offer such services as oral surgery, management of facial pain and children's dentistry.

But the plans have concerned some residents of Wellingborough Road, who are worried about proposals to use the building's back garden as a car park for staff and disabled patients.

Local councillor Brian Hoare (Lib Dem, Abington) backed the residents' concerns.

He said: "I'm reluctantly against this. The main complaint is the proposal to turn a back garden into a car park.

"This building is in a conservation area and in my opinion doing this is not the solution."

The plans also concerned members of the planning committee.

Councillor Richard Church (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe) said: "The big issue here is parking.

"To me, it's completely unsuitable for customers to use this area. The other issue is spoiling rear gardens by them being turned over to car parking, and I understand people's concerns about that.

"I can understand the need to have parking spaces for disabled patients, but it would seem to me to be better to have a smaller car park."

After discussing the issue, the planning committee decided to delay making a decision on the scheme until a future meeting.