Dorset Council (Weymouth area): Chris Miell has secured planning permission and listed building consent for the change of use of an existing office building to a mixed use development comprising of 8 x flats and 3 x self-contained offices (Use Class E) with associated works.
The Grade II listed building is located on St Thomas Street in Weymouth. It was originally constructed on behalf of Royal Mail and provided the town’s main Post Office. This use ceased many decades ago and the building has been used for commercial purposes since. It is 4 storeys (including basement) in height and sits on a prominent corner junction within the town centre. Its main frontage is onto St Thomas Street with a secondary entrance onto Lower St Alban Street.
The upper three floors of the building are currently used as solicitor’s offices and form a single planning unit. The existing tenant’s lease is coming to an end and the building owner was concerned that there is limited demand for such an expansive singular office building within the town centre.
Working with Trinty Architecture, we pursued an application for a mixed-use development, which will revitalise the building by providing a mixture of residential and self-contained commerical offices suitable for small businesses and local start-ups. The proposed works are predominantly internal alterations, which make better use of the building in a manner sensitive to the building’s historic plan form.
To support the application, we prepared a design and access statement and heritage statement, which set out the merits of the proposal in a clear and concise manner and demonstrated to the LPA that the proposal would align with local plan policies which are supportive of the use of upper floors for residential and commercial purposes, whilst preserving the special interest of the heritage asset.
Upon consideration of the application, the Planning Officer was supportive of the development, concluding with his report that “The proposed conversion of the building to provide 8 flats and commercial space is considered to be an appropriate re-use of an existing building in a highly sustainable location which would comply with policies SUS2 and ECON4 of the Local Plan. The proposal would avoid harm to the historic interest of the building, which is Grade II listed as well as avoiding harm to the setting of neighbouring listed buildings and the character of the conservation area. The proposals represent an appropriate long-term use of the building and will contribute to its conservation.”
If you have a commercial 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.