Bournemouth and Poole, Dorset: I have been surprised by the lack of take up of the new permitted development right to change the use of B1 offices into C3 residential particularly in Bournemouth and Poole. Over in Southampton the applications for prior approval have been rolling in including plans to convert some of the city’s largest office blocks such as a proposed scheme of 74 flats in the 12-storey Richmond House, Terminus Terrace. But in Bournemouth, despite all the apparent vacant office space, there has been tiny handful of applications for prior approval to Bournemouth Borough Council for a tiny few residential units. Over in the Borough of Poole there have been two applications for prior approval. Poole being Poole has found its prior approval was necessary then found an excuse to deny approval for both.
Come on people! These are cheap potential residential units – no application fee, no affordable housing. But perhaps most importantly potentially in locations where the Council would not usually allow them such as the Lansdowne Employment Area.
What about out in the countryside? For years barns have been converted into offices – I would imagine a fair few of these must be vacant. A shot at a new dwelling in the countryside has got to be worth looking at?
Want to know more? Give us a call.