Retrospective plans for flats above Peterborough office refused by council
A retrospective planning application for a development of flats above an office in Peterborough has been refused.
The property at 43 Silverwood Road accommodates office use on the ground floor, currently occupied by Silverwood Care, and residential use above.
While the upper floors previously contained one flat, work was completed in May prior to planning permission being granted to convert the space into four self-contained studio flats.
MKY Investments Limited applied to Peterborough City Council on October 22 in a bid to gain retrospective permission for the work.
Planning documents stated that the development represented a “high-quality, sustainable conversion” with “adequate” parking, cycle storage and access.
However, the council’s highways department objected to the plans due to a lack of adequate parking facilities and poor access to the site.
A council case officer also raised concerns in their report around the size of the proposed flats.
“Whilst the [local planning authority] currently cannot demonstrate a five year housing land supply, the provision of three additional flatted accommodation on this site that would contribute to housing supply, would not overcome the detrimental impacts of the proposed, and the conflicts with the development plan,” the report stated.
It added: “The proposed would result in substandard living accommodation with insufficient parking.”
While planners admitted that the overall character of the site would remain largely unchanged, the proposal was deemed unacceptable having been assessed in light of all material considerations.