Dorset Council (Purbeck area): Chris Miell has secured planning permission for the change of use of a guest house to a self-contained dwelling on Victoria Road, Swanage.
The existing detached building has been used as an 8-bedroom guesthouse with owner’s accommodation (Use Class C1) for many years. The current owners had tried to sell the property as tourist accommodation for over year, but were unsuccessful. Therefore, we were instructed to pursue a change of use application to reinstate the property to its original use as a self-contained dwellinghouse (Use Class C3).
Policy EE4 of the Purbeck Local Plan seeks to protect existing tourist accommodation. It states “Proposals that would lead to the loss or change of use of a hotel or other accommodation in Use Class C1 will only be permitted: campaign, it can be demonstrated that there is no market interest in acquisition or investment to allow the continued profitable operation of the business; and the planning application demonstrates that the facility has been realistically marketed without success for a continuous period of 9 months over the 12 month period prior to the application being submitted.”
As part of the application, we liaised with the applicant’s estate agent who prepared a detailed marketing report to show that there was no market interest in the acquisition of the property by other tourist accommodation operators. In addition, we prepared a design and access statement, which set out the merits of the proposal in a clear and concise manner and demonstrated to the LPA that the proposal would comply with the development plan.
Upon consideration of the application, the Planning Officer was supportive of the development, concluding with her report that “The period of marketing is considered acceptable in respect of Policy EE4 and the principle of the loss of the hotel is acceptable. The use as a single dwelling is also acceptable in this location. Accordingly, the change of use to residential use (Use Class C3) would be in accordance with Policy EE4
If you have a commerical building and would like to seek permission for residential conversion, then why not call Pure Town Planning on 01202 585524 or email info@puretownplanning.co.uk to see how we can help you.