A TEMPORARY building at a site in Taunton where Covid-19 tests are carried out was put up rapidly in Taunton without planning permission.

A retrospective application has been submitted for the two-storey Portakabin in Lisieux Way.

The premises act as storage and office space for IPP Facilities Ltd, whose work includes handling cornavirus tests for NHS trusts based in Taunton and Yeovil and more than 100 GP practices.

IPP is asking Somerset West and Taunton Council to be able to keep the Portakabin on site for three years.

A planning application statement says: "As a vital Covid-19 testing site, it was identified that storage and office space was vital to support this vital government programme (of Covid testing).

"With no available space within the existing buildings on site, the Portakabin building was installed immediately to provide storage to the ground floor and office space on the first.

"Both floors are directly related to Covid-19 testing.

"Given the building is required on a temporary basis during a pandemic, then long term need is uncertain. However it is anticipated that a period of three years is sufficient.

"If the need persists after three years, a longer term solution will be explored.

"This application seeks retrospective permission for a period of 156 weeks."

It adds: "The Portakabin building have been chosen as a result of the flexible solution it provides.

"They have been installed quickly enabling the IPP Facilities Ltd to begin using the specifically fitted out building much more quickly than a traditional build.

"The temporary nature of these building allows easy removal from site with little impact."