BCP Council (Bournemouth area): Matt is pleased to share another strong result for Pure Town Planning on Poole Hill in Bournemouth where he has recently secured both planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the alterations, extensions, internal reconfiguration and conversion of a vacant Grade II listed office building back into productive use, delivering five new flats alongside a retained Class E commercial unit at ground floor.
The proposal, which was designed by ARC Architecture for mutual client was a hard-fought application. PTP were instructed following a previously withdrawn application by a different owner and different planning consultancy. Matt worked positively throughout the process, revising the scheme to reduce internal partitioning, protecting key historic features and responding constructively to heritage comments.
But unfortunately, from our perspective, the goalposts kept moving. When objections extended even to the proposed location of an internal bathroom, it felt clear that enough was enough. With no real sign that the planning officer would move away from the conservation stance, Matt escalated the matter to senior planning officers and pressed for the tilted balance to be applied properly, with significant weight given to the public benefits.
That wider balance mattered. BCP’s own delegated report confirms the council has only a 2.55-year housing land supply, so the delivery of 5 homes carried significant weight. The reports also concluded (finally) that any harm to the internal historic fabric would be less than substantial, and that this was outweighed by the public benefits: a visibly improved building, a vacant property back in viable use, the return of residential use, and 5 much-needed homes in a sustainable town-centre location, with commercial activity retained at ground floor. In a borough facing a serious housing shortfall, sensible schemes like this need common-sense decision making.
We are proud to have secured this result for our client that protects the Listed Terrace, but improves the internals and delivers new homes and commercial space in the heart of Bournemouth, paving the way for other schemes to come forward. A great outcome for our client, for this heritage asset, and for the town. #MakeItHappen