Village shop at The Trap Inn Station Road North, Broomhill, Morpeth

What was proposed

The application proposed changing a former snooker room into a small village shop and replacing front windows with customer-access doors, without adding floorspace.

“The application seeks full planning permission for the change of use of a former snooker room, located within the existing Trap Inn public house building at Station Road, North Broomhill, to a village shop (Use Class E(a) – display or retail sale of goods).”

“External alterations are limited to the replacement of existing PVC windows on the front elevation with PVC doors to provide customer access to the shop. No extensions or additional floorspace are proposed. Existing vehicle parking within the site will be retained, with no changes to access arrangements.”

Officer report

Public responses

Five neighbours were notified, with no objections, support or general comments received.

“Number of Neighbours Notified 5 Number of Objections 0 Number of Support 0 Number of General Comments 0”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Area Development Manager introduced the application with a presentation, followed by questions from members.

What members debated

Members discussed parking, highway safety, existing works, the pub’s planning status and whether the existing parking arrangements were adequate.

“The proposals relating to the pub itself were not a material planning consideration. • Members needed to consider the application which was presented to them. • The Highways Officer had assessed the application and had raised no concerns. A footpath existed along the road and there were yellow zigzags further along the road near to the school. • The proposed works to reopen the pub/restaurant did not require planning permission.”

“A condition for restricted parking measures could not be addressed through this planning application as the process for restrictions could be lengthy with months of survey work. The best solution to address no parking in front of the shop would be to for the shop owner to erect a sign for no parking in front the shop, however, this would be a goodwill gesture on their behalf. • There was no justification for a condition to monitor the parking for 12 months.”

Minutes

The vote

Members voted five in favour and three against accepting the officer recommendation.

“Councillor Austin proposed to accept the officer’s recommendation as set out in the report and Councillor Smith seconded this.”

“Councillor Simm asserted that members needed to be mindful of the car parking issues but would support the application.”

Minutes

The decision

Permission was granted subject to the conditions and reasons in the report.

“A vote was taken as follows; FOR 5; AGAINST 3.”

“RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED permission subject to the conditions/reasons outlined in the report.”

Minutes

Permission conditions

The permission required commencement within three years, compliance with approved plans and limited shop opening hours.

“The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.”

“The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in complete accordance with the approved plans. The approved plans for this development are:-”

Officer report