Agenda item

FULL: Conversion to 6no, 1 bedroom apartments, rear single storey infill extension, external alterations and creation of 2no parking spaces.

Mr Joshua Parkinson, Planning Manager (Development Manager), presented the application to the committee. The application related to the former Lord Longworth Public House located on 6-8 Thomas Street in Oswaldtwistle. The site is approximately 0.06 ha and has a single storey rear outrigger and adjoins land previously used as part of the public house for outdoor seating.

The application sought consent to convert the building into 6no. 1-bedroom apartments and various external alterations including a single storey infill extension to the rear.

The submitted floor plans show 4no. apartments to the ground floor and 2no. apartments to the first floor.

Each apartment is shown to have a single bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room, of varying floorspace; ranging from 38m2 to 43.5m2. Each apartment is shown to have a separate external access with the ground floor units accessed from either Thomas Street or Peel Street. The first-floor units have separate access points including an existing external staircase to the rear/ northwest and an internal staircase via the northwestern elevation, both accessed via Thomas Street.

The application proposes a single-story infill extension to close the gap between the two outriggers to the rear and aligns with the rear of the building in projection.

The extension is to be used as a bathroom associated with one of the ground floor apartments, while adding to the existing flat roof terrace at first floor level.

Other external changes include 4no. new windows (one to each elevation) and 2no. new doors all at ground floor. A single window is proposed to the southern elevation at first floor level.

1no parking space has been proposed off Thomas Street to the north of the building. Bins and cycle storage is shown to the rear of the building close to the external staircase.

No objections were received by Hyndburn Borough Councils Environmental Health Team, Lancashire County Council Highways or Cadent Gas.

One objection was raised by a member of the public which raises concerns regarding the potential tenants of the property.

The application was recommended for approval with the conditions listed in the agenda.

Members discussed the application and agreed that bringing the building back into use was a positive, especially considering there are other local pubs close by. However, the lack of parking provided in the plans raised concerns as members were aware of the existing demand on parking without the addition of 6 new properties.

Resolved – Members voted to approve the officer recommendation and grant planning permission subject to the conditions noted in the report.

N.B. – 1. Councillor Stephen Smithson – Spoke against the application.

·         The Parking Standard usually requests 1 parking space for each flat. Only 1 space is provided in the plans. This is not suitable for the number of flats proposed.

·         2 Local schools increase the number of cars on the road during drop of and pick up time.

·         On street parking is already at a premium.

     2. Tahir Satia – Spoke in support of the application.

·         Lancashire County Councils Highway department have raised no concerns regarding the number of parking spaces.

·         The building has been empty for a long time, the plans hope to bring it back into use.

·         Tenants will be vetted before placing in the flats.

·         No intention of filling the property with tenants who will have a negative impact on the area.