Dorset Council: Chris Miell has recently secured planning permission for the conversion of three vacant commerical premises in Dorchester town centre to a mixed-use scheme comprising co-living accommodation and one commerical unit.
The development at Princes Houses incorporates external works including the removal of an existing canopy, insertion of new glazing and railings and the formation of new openings. As part of the scheme the basement will be utilised to provide a communal gym, laundry room and cycle store.
The site is within Dorchester’s defined Town Centre Boundary, Secondary Shopping Frontage and Dorchester Conservation Area. It also forms part of the setting of several listed buildings. The immediate area has a mixed character with a variety of residential and commerical uses present. Along Trinity Street, many of the ground floor units tend to be within Class E use with upper floors either in use as offices or converted into residential use making the most of this sustainable central location and adding to the vitality of the historic town centre.
The upper floors of the building were recently converted to flats by the owner, but the ground floor commerical units have remained vacant for several years, despite extensive marketing. Due to the sensitive nature of the site, prior to submission we utilised the Council’s pre-application service, which included a site meeting with the Planning Officer and Conservation Officer to discuss our plans. These positive discussions led to refinement of the design and clarification regarding what evidence would need to be submitted to justify the loss of the commerical units in this town centre location.
To support the applications, we prepared a detailed Design, Access, Planning and Heritage Statement, which justified the proposal in policy terms. In particular, we were able to put forward a robust justification in support of the principle of development whereby we demonstrated that the development was necessary to meet the needs of local workers, including those who work for the NHS at the nearby Dorchester County Hospital. To justify the loss of the commerical units, the applicant liaised with the estate agent who provided a marketing report, which showed a lack of commercial demand.
The applications were well received by the statutory consultees, including Dorchester Town Council, but minor changes were sought by the Conservation Officer to further refine the glazing details. Chris negotiated on the client’s behalf and instructed the architect to prepare amendments, which were well received by the Council.
In assessing the application, the Planning Officer concluded that “The proposals are acceptable in principle, having the potential to return the ground floor section of the property to viable use while increasing the architectural and aesthetic values of the building and area. The benefits of providing keyworker accommodation and a revitalised shop unit in a sustainable town centre location, outweigh the modest disbenefits of the proposal in respect of loss of retail frontage, amenity and lack of car parking. Consequently, the application is recommended for approval, subject to conditions”.
If you are exploring the possibilities of converting/creating a new HMO development or co-living scheme and seek assistance in steering your scheme through the planning process, then contact Pure Town Planning on 01202 585524, or email us at info@puretownplanning.co.uk for an assessment to see if we can assist.