Project Description
Our client had converted the ground floor of a vacant warehouse into a retail/wholesale store specialising in Asian food products. The wholesale element was primarily orientated towards the restaurant trade and Asian community facilities, but part of the premises was also open to the general public and included a purpose built external canopy for the display of fruit and vegetables.
As the building was located outside of the City Centre and within an area designated for employment, the planning approval had a number of restrictions limiting the extent of any retail operations. Our clients were operating in breach of these conditions in so far as the retail element of the scheme exceeded that allowed by the planning permission. They had failed to obtain permission for the erection of the canopy and the Council were also concerned that the premises was not primarily operating as a food warehouse. De Pol was instructed to try and regularise the situation and avoid the Council taking enforcement action.
De Pol were successful in securing retrospective planning permission for the erection of the canopy, as well as getting approval for an amendment to the conditions on the original planning permission to allow the increased retail floorspace. The application package included the submission of a retail impact assessment, supporting planning statement and other evidence. We were therefore able to regularise our client’s operations and avoid enforcement action being taken by the Council.
