Barber shop and access at 1 Rushcliffe Road, Hucknall

What was proposed

The application proposed replacing a timber shed with a barber shop and creating a new vehicular access and parking spaces.

“The application seeks consent to remove an existing outbuilding/children’s playhouse at the dwelling and the construction of a new outbuilding to be used as a barber shop. The proposal also includes the provision of a new vehicular access & parking. The use class of the barber shop would be Class E.”

Officer report

The site and its history

The site is a semi-detached dwelling on a corner in a residential area, and an earlier similar application was refused.

“The application site consists of a two-storey, semi-detached dwelling located on the corner of Rushcliffe Road and Nabbs Lane. The site is within a well-established residential area and is sited within the main urban area of Hucknall as outlined within the ALPR (2002). Visual Amenity: The proposed outbuilding would be located to the side of the property and would be approximately in the same location as the existing ‘Wendy house’ that is proposed to be demolished.”

“In addition, 11 Nabbs Lane has an outbuilding adjacent to the boundary, constructed around 2022/2023, which also appears to not benefit from planning permission. The proposed barber shop is significantly larger than the existing outbuilding, due to the rising land levels from Nabbs Lane to Rushcliffe Road, the outbuilding would appear as a prominent structure and would be clearly visible within the street scene.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended refusal because the full-time business would be prominent and would change the character of the residential area.

“It would be clear that a business would be operating from the premises because of the visiting customers and therefore would generate an unacceptable change of character to the residential setting.”

“The development proposal would not comply with the provisions of the development plan, when considered as a whole. It is considered the proposal would have a detrimental impact on the character of the area, by virtue of introducing a full-time commercial use into a residential area. As such, it is recommended that planning permission be refused.”

Officer report

Highways and residents

The highway authority raised no objection subject to conditions, while no comments were received from residents.

“Residents Comments: No comments have been received in respect of this application. Policy Having regard to Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 the main policy considerations are as follows:”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent addressed the committee on behalf of the applicant.

What members considered

Members considered the scheme acceptable, with limited effects on neighbours, the street scene and highways, and noted similar home businesses had been allowed.

“Reasons for rejecting officers’ recommendation: Members considered this to be an acceptable scheme, which has limited impact on neighbouring residents, character of the street scene and the local highway network. Members also considered that the Council have significant precedence of allowing small businesses to work from home in very similar circumstances.”

Minutes

The vote

The motion to reject the officers’ recommendation and grant conditional consent was supported unanimously, with no votes against or abstentions.

“It was moved by Councillor Dave Shaw and seconded by Councillor Jason Zadrozny that the officer’s recommendation contained within the report be rejected and conditional planning consent be granted as follows:”

Minutes