Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER    

Change of Use from restaurant (Class E from the 1/09/2020) to C3 (residential) to create two x 1-bed flats. External window alterations to rear elevations.

RESOLVED: That application 24/00537/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio Recording – 1 hour 14 minutes 57 seconds

The Senior Planning Officer gave a verbal update and advised that there was no mention of the Baldock Neighbourhood Plan as none of the policies were relevant to the application.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of Application 24/00537/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The Chair invited Councillor Alistair Willoughby to speak against the application. Councillor Willoughby thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       Whilst the application was on hold for three years, a local plan had been adopted which has come with many changes to the area, meaning the application must take into consideration all the new impacts on it.

·       Converting a commercial space into residential would lead to less income for the community and fewer jobs, threating the viability.

·       There was no need for more houses in the area, and the current commercial use was successful so why stop it.

·       The report stated that there had been several ownership changes in recent years which indicated that the business was unsuccessful, but it was unclear where this view had come from.

·       There was a better opportunity for the town if the space was changed into a commercial use again rather than into a residential use.

The Chair invited the Agent, Mr Neil Gaskell to speak in support of the application. Mr Gaskell thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The location was on the edge of the town centre and so footfall was limited in the area meaning people attending a shop there was unlikely.

·       The size of the space was also impractical for the running of a restaurant as the premises could only fit 18 covers.

·       The Licensing Committee had imposed restrictions regarding music, windows and acoustic separations which made it difficult to run a bar on the site.

·       The acoustic separation of the ceiling to limit the noise upstairs meant that the ceiling was lower and reached head height.

·       There had been no public objections to the application

·       There had been no commercial interest and the owner has lost money due to no one taking up the place for commercial use.

In response to a point of clarification from Councillor Tom Tyson, Mr Gaskell advised that:

·       There had been no interest indicated in this building being taken over as an Asset of Community Value.

·       The license had lapsed but the license was on the property not the owner.

·       Additionally, the agent was informed that it was unlikely the license would be granted again due to how residentially surrounded it is.

·       The Chair thanked Mr Gaskell for his presentation and invited the Senior Planning Officer to respond to any points raised.

The Senior Planning Officer advised that the previous decision for this application was considered under saved policies of the previous Local Plan and emerging policies of the now adopted Local Plan. In the current Local Plan development section it states that they have taken all material considerations into account, alongside the important factor of bringing a listed building back into some kind of reasonable use.

Councillor Ruth Brown proposed to approve planning permission and Councillor Amy Allen seconded.

The following members took part in the debate:

·       Councillor Nigel Mason

·       Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·       Councillor Amy Allen

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

Points raised in the debate included:

·       Majority of the roads around this premises had a lack of stores or commercial properties.

·       There were pubs, shops, and other small local businesses closer to the nearby roundabout meaning there was not a need for a store.

·       The use of this property as residential dwellings was better for the neighbourhood and the building itself.

·       A one-bedroom accommodation would be difficult to find especially near town centre, so this would be sort after.

Having been proposed and seconded and following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 24/00537/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.