Approved change use unviable restaurant planning consultant BournemouthBournemouth Borough Council: Pure Town Planning are delighted to announce that we have secured planning permission in Alum Chine to convert the Edge restaurant to two residential apartments. The approved scheme involves the redevelopment of this 4th/5th floor restaurant into spacious 2 x 3 bedroom apartments with unrivalled sea views in this much sought after location.

The restaurant itself was originally approved as part of a 2007 application to erect a 4/5 storey block consisting of 14 flats and 16 holiday apartments. PTP has marshalled the current scheme throughout the planning process since its initial pre-application discussions back in December 2014.

Whilst the restaurant’s 4th/5th floor setting provided picturesque panoramic ocean views, this attractive feature was also a key component in its failure to remain viable. Its isolated location and inefficient access within a residential block, far from regular footfall and passing trade, resulted in a continual struggle to remain profitable for a number of years. This shortfall was also compounded by the increasingly competitive Bournemouth restaurant trade in the surrounding area and the high running costs of operating a restaurant space in such a unique location.

Following rigorous and comprehensive consultation between PTP and the respective Bournemouth Borough Council officers, the scheme (designed by Williams Lester Architects) was deemed acceptable and recommended for approval. Despite this support from the Officers, the application was brought before January’s Planning Board at the request of a Ward Councillor, who argued against the loss of the restaurant use.

PTP successfully represented the applicant at Planning Board and made the case to Members that the existing restaurant use was proven to be no longer viable, despite extensive marketing efforts by the operators for a considerable time. The application was supported by critical financial and marketing research and viability assessments undertaken by Section 106 Affordable Housing and Sturt & Company, which demonstrated that the proposal was fully compliant with all relevant planning policies and that the failing restaurant could be successfully transformed into residential use, which would in fact improve the amenity of its neighbouring residential flats (many of whom supported the proposal). As such, the proposal secured almost unanimous support from Members and the application was approved.

This redevelopment has been a successful collaboration between ourselves and the aforementioned consultants in delivering a comprehensively designed and expertly negotiated and managed application from start to finish, which has heralded a highly desirable and valuable change of use to two residential units with stunning sea views.

Here at Pure Town Planning, we like nothing more than securing our clients planning approvals. If you are working on a residential development, or have a commercial property which may have planning potential, we will work tirelessly to steer your development through the process and secure that all-important planning permission. You could very well be missing out on a prospective development opportunity so why not give us a call or send us an email to info@puretownplanning.co.uk.