Location:
Buckinghamshire Council (Chiltern area)
Issue:
Securing external and internal amendments to apartments in a Conservation Area
How we helped and added value:
We recently secured permission for the change of use from offices and retail space to nine residential apartments in a building in a Conservation Area and District Shopping Centre.
Following the granting of the original planning permission to convert the building into apartments, our client identified a need to replace the existing timber-framed windows. The planning officer initially stated that as the site is located in a Conservation Area, the Council would only accept like-for-like replacement timber-framed windows. Our client was reluctant to use timber-framed windows due to ongoing maintenance issues and their poorer thermal efficiency. We set out a robust argument in the application that alternative aluminium-framed windows would be appropriate and not harm the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, and this was accepted by the Council. At the same time, we identified that further improvements to the scheme could be made, including the introduction of an external terrace to the second floor to part of the building to improve residential amenity of one of the apartments. In light of Covid-19, having access to private outdoor amenity space is becoming an attractive feature for future residents. This and other external changes to the building were secured in the application.
Current circumstances have also realised the importance of having sufficient space to work from home. Our client therefore wanted to make some improvements to the internal layout of the already approved apartments to incorporate office space, additional bedrooms, and entrance hallways. We secured permission for these improvements via a separate non-material amendment, and were pleased that the increase in floorspace for some of the apartments did not result in any CIL payments being required.
