BCP Council (Bournemouth): Matt Annen is pleased to announce that planning permission has recently been secured for alterations and Change of Use of 2 offices on lower ground floor to 2 Residential flats (Class C3) and retain 1 x Mixed use Class E commercial unit within a prominent locally listed building in Pokesdown, Bournemouth. The supporting plans were prepared by ARC Architecture.
The approved scheme delivers two new 2 bedroom flats while retaining a 44sqm Class E unit, creating a stronger long-term mixed-use proposition in a sustainable district centre location. From a planning perspective, that balance mattered. The site sits within Boscombe District Centre, where policy quite properly seeks to protect active commercial uses. Our approach was therefore targeted and evidence-led: justify the loss of the smaller lower-ground offices that had remained vacant, while safeguarding meaningful commercial floorspace within the building. With a robust marketing history and clear evidence as to why those office suites were no longer attracting occupiers, we were able to demonstrate that the proposal was both commercially realistic and policy compliant.
The heritage context also required care. 896 Christchurch Road is a richly detailed former civic building, locally listed as the old Pokesdown Art and Technical School. Rather than forcing change onto the architecture, the scheme works with the building as it stands. No external alterations were proposed to the main structure, which enabled the heritage case to remain clean and focused. The Council agreed that the proposal would preserve the character of the building and the wider street scene, with no objection from heritage officers. The residential offer is equally robust. The consented scheme provides two well-sized two-bedroom flats of 66.7 sq m and 70.6 sq m, both meeting national space standards in a highly accessible location close to rail and bus links.
The application was supported by the right technical material, including daylight evidence, and the wider consultation response was notably positive: no objections from highways, heritage or waste officers, and no neighbour comments received. This decision is also a good example of how well-prepared town-centre conversion schemes can succeed first time.
With BCP Council unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the delivery of new homes in sustainable locations carries significant weight. The officer’s report recognised that, and concluded that the benefits of two additional homes on a brownfield site outweighed the identified compromises.
If you are struggling to rent out your office/commercial space and a wish to consider a conversion to residential use, then call Pure Town Planning on 01202 585524, or email info@puretownplaning.co.uk to see how we can help.