Agenda item

Application Proposal: Alterations to front elevation and the change of use of shop (ground floor and first floor) to 1 No. dwellinghouse

(Having earlier declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest as the applicant, Councillor Jenny Kenton left the room during consideration of the item).

(Having earlier declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the application, Councillor Garry Shortland left the room during consideration of the item).

The Planning Officer introduced the report and with the aid of slides and photographs summarised the details of the application as set out in the agenda.  There were no updates to the report.  The key considerations were impact upon the Conservation area, Highway safety and parking and residential amenity.  The Planning Officer’s recommendation was for approval.

In response to member questions, the Planning Officer advised that:

·         An employment study had not been undertaken as it was not required as the application site was outside of the primary shopping area and primary shopping frontage;

·         Policy was supportive of a mix of retail and residential use;

·         The primary shopping frontage was defined within the Local Plan.  The line stopped at Combe Street.

The Committee was addressed by the applicant, Mr A Kenton.  He informed members that there were currently nine empty shops in Chard.  The property had been advertised to be sold for six years and had been empty for the last two years and had fallen into disrepair.  He advised that historically the property had been a town house and he hoped to bring the property back to use and give the high street a lift.  Chard was currently lacking in four bedroom properties and the property would be large enough for a large family.  The property had a garden and garage and at least two parking spaces.  He advised that the windows on the ground floor would be double glazed possibly triple glazed.

The Ward Member, Cllr Amanda Broom commented that her main concern related to the impact on residential amenity.  Although the property was outside of the main shopping frontage, it was an extremely busy area with a large amount of takeaways.  She found it very disappointing that another property was coming forward for change of use.  She supported the installation of triple glazing to the new windows. 

During discussion on the item, a member also raised concerns with regard to residential amenity and felt that the property could be a victim of vandalism and shared the concerns of the Environmental Health Officer.  He felt that the windows should be of toughened glass.  A member speaking in support of the application felt that it was a person’s choice to live in the property and that there wasn’t the demand for retail units in the current climate and felt that there were no reasons to refuse the application.  Another member felt that policy supported the proposal and that vandalism was at the owner’s risk.  He felt that the proposal would make the area safer and improve the High Street.

Members were content for the Planning Officer to agree the details of the new windows.  It was therefore proposed and seconded to approve the application as per the Planning Officer’s recommendation outlined in the report.  On being put to the vote the proposal to approve the application was unanimously carried.