Driving Test Centre Forest Hills Drive Southampton SO18 2FY Data via plota.co.uk

26/00984/FUL - Full Application Awaiting decision
Change of useCommercial premises

Proposal

Change of use from driving test centre to taxi company headquarters (Sui generis). Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
24 Aug 2026
✓
Consultation
27 Aug 2026
Decision
Expected by 19 Oct 2026

This application is under consideration - no decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision between 19 Oct 2026 and 26 Oct 2026, from Southampton's recent changes of use. The consultation period closed on 17 Sept 2026.

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 7

Nutrient neutrality catchment: Solent: Includes Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA/Ramsar, Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar, Solent Maritime SAC, Portsmouth Harbour SPA/Ramsar
New homes and overnight accommodation must show nutrient neutrality before approval.
Natural England advice: extra wastewater in these catchments harms protected habitats, so schemes must offset their nutrient load, usually through credits.
Article 4 direction
HMO. Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.
An Article 4 direction withdraws particular permitted development rights, so work that would normally need no application needs one here. Not every council has published its directions.
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
Also on the record
Special area of conservation 353 m away: River Itchen; SSSI 353 m away: Alresford Pond SSSI; Registered park or garden 208 m away: Townhill Park; Inside the Southampton built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No listed building at the site

Checked on 11 September 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Council
Southampton
Application type
Full Application
Postcode
SO18 2FY
Received
24 Aug 2026
Validated
24 Aug 2026
Ward
Bitterne Park
Case officer
Show
Target decision
19 Oct 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
RS Studio

Decision outlook

Day 42 of the 56-day target. Southampton usually decides changes of use by day 57.

Day 4215 days to the predicted decision (day 57)
50%decided within 8 weeks
86%approved
11%go to committee

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Southampton in the last twelve months, from validation. Southampton decision record →

Public comments

10comments received
10 objecting

100% object · above the UK average of 75%

16 neighbours consulted · Last counted 2 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
20133
Neighbours
27 Aug 2026
Consultation
27 Aug 2026
Comments by
17 Sept 2026
Statutory expiry
19 Oct 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

12 nearby applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
10 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PZ
Non-material amendment sought to planning permission ref 22/00173/FUL to alter materials…
25/01378/NMA
2024 Approved
9 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PY
Non-material amendment sought to planning permission ref 23/00358/FUL and 23/00830/NMA to…
24/01349/NMA
2023 Approved
9 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PY
Non-material amendment sought to planning permission ref 23/00358/FUL for alterations to…
23/00830/NMA
2023 Approved
9 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PY
Demolition of existing garage and erection of 2-storey side extension and single storey r…
23/00358/FUL
2022 Withdrawn
9 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PY
Erection of a two-storey side extension to link existing garage with dormers on front and…
22/01316/FUL
2022 Approved
24 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PZ
T1 - Maple tree in front garden. Crown lift over public road to 5m and 3m over garden and…
22/00187/TPO
2022 Approved
10 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PZ
Erection of a two-storey side and rear extension plus a single storey front porch extensi…
22/00173/FUL
2021 Approved
11 Premier Parade Forest Hills Drive Southampton SO18 2GA
Tree Works
21/00100/TPO
2019 Approved
12 Broadwater Road Southampton SO18 2EB
Erection of a single storey rear extension (max depth 3.7m, max height 3.1m, eaves height…
20/00021/PAH
2019 Refused
11 Premier Parade Forest Hills Drive Southampton SO18 2GA
Tree Works
19/00256/TPO
2018 Approved
73 Forest Hills Drive Southampton SO18 2FZ
Erection of a single storey rear extension (Max depth 3.3m, max height 4m, eaves height 2…
18/00326/PAH
2016 Approved
2 Kingsfold Avenue Southampton SO18 2PZ
Conversion of single dwellinghouse to 2 dwellinghouses (1 x 2-bed and 1 x 3-bed) with add…
15/02168/FUL
Southampton
Planning Authority Score
5/10
Average
#150 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Southampton ranks #158 out of 296 councils for householder decision speed. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (93%) than the national average (90%).

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Southampton decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
90%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #117 of 296
93%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #137 of 296
63%
Decided in 8 weeks
Above avg (63%) #158 of 296
40%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #154 of 296
70%
Minor dwellings approved
50 decided (1-9 homes)
100%
Major dwellings approved
8 decided (10+ homes)
86%
Change of use approved
109 decided
742
Total decisions
72 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use