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The site represents the curtilage of number 11, Bank Street, a terraced property situated on the western side of Bank Street in a row of variously sized properties, some fronting straight onto Bank Street, others angled to it. The property has a very small rear yard and two floors of accommodation.
The site lies within an area designated on the extant Castletown Local Plan of 1991 and the draft Castletown Area Plan as Mixed Use. The Local Plan states that "USE OF THE UPPER FLOORS OF EXISTING RETAIL PREMISES FOR RESIDENTIAL OR OFFICE USE WILL BE ENCOURAGED. THEIR CONVERSION FROM RESIDENTIAL USE TO OFFICE USE WILL HOWEVER BE DISCOURAGED" (policy 2.12) The draft Area Plan includes the following policy "APPROVAL IS NOT LIKELY TO BE GRANTED FOR THE CREATION OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION AT GROUND FLOOR LEVEL IN THE AREAS INDICATED BY POLICY C/RET/P2 ABOVE, OR ON UPPER FLOORS WHERE THE EXISTING OR LAST AUTHORISED USE IS RESIDENTIAL". The "areas" referred to include Bank Street.
PA 84/01289/B - Alterations and conversion to form Pet Shop, 11 Bank Street, Castletown<br/> Initial Decision: Permitted 1st January 1994
PA /00118/D - Erection of two non-illuminated wall signs, 11 Bank Street, Castletown<br/> Initial Decision: Permitted 1st January 1994
PA 03/01037/C - Change of use of shop and first floor from retail to residential Initial Decision: Refused 10th October 2003
PA 04/00876/C - Change of use of shop and first floor from retail to residential Appeal Reference : 04/00160/APPEAL Appeal Decision : Approved at Appeal 16th March 2005
Proposed now is the conversion of the building on both floors to office accommodation. The residential use permitted above has not been taken up. No changes to the building are being proposed.
Department of Transport Highways and Traffic Division indicate that they do not oppose the application as the parking requirements for parking and retail are the same.
Despite the policies in the local and draft area plans which aim to restrict the use of ground and first floors of premises within the Mixed Use areas to retail or sometimes residential use, the heart of Castletown has many properties which are presently unused and the occupation of the premises as an office as proposed will introduce people to the building who could support the existing and future retail units and catering facilities within the town. This is particularly relevant in the current economic climate with some major retailers going out of business and town centres becoming empty.
As such, whilst the policy presumes against the use of premises within the town centre for office purposes where their last use was residential or retail, in this case, the occupation and maintenance of the building is of importance as the property is sited within the Conservation Area. As such, the use for offices is considered to be acceptable in this case. The building is also modest in size and area and will not introduce a significant office use to the town, nor result in the loss of a significant residential or retail unit.
The Department of Transport and the local authority are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (c) and (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.
Recommended Decision: Permitted
Date of Recommendation: 10.02.2009
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal
C 1.
The use must be taken up within four years of the date of this notice in order for this approval to remain valid after that time.
This permission relates to the use of the premises as an office as shown and described in the plans and information all received on 12th January, 2009.
I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 31/07 (Delegation of Functions to Senior Planning Officer)
Decision Made : Permitted Date : 27/2/09
Signed : S221.04.05 Senior Planning Officer PC
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