Planning permission and listed building consent was secured on appeal, with an award of costs against the Council, for the conversion and alteration of a Grade II Listed Building from a B1 office use to a house in multiple occupation.
The subject premises was a 3 storey C19th period Grade II Listed office building located within the Winckley Square Conservation Area in Preston. Whilst De Pol were successful in obtaining Listed Building Consent for the proposed building alterations, Preston City Council refused planning permission for the proposed change of use to a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO). They considered that such a use would have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the Conservation Area in conflict with the Development Plan and NPPF and that it would also undermine the regeneration objectives in their Conservation Area Framework. This decision was appealed, by written representations, and we not only secured planning permission but were successful in obtaining an award of costs against the Council.
When granting planning permission the Inspector accepted our case that the active use of the building must be considered preferable to it remaining vacant and that there was no evidence to indicate that a HMO use would result in an imbalance in the mix of uses, or cause substantial harm to the designated heritage asset or the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. When awarding costs against the Council the Inspector also accepted our case that the Council had acted unreasonably by refusing the application without any substantive evidence to support their claim that there would be harm to the conservation area or that the proposal would undermine regeneration objectives.