Two residential flats at Unit 4 Douglas Centre, Alma Road, Brodick

“Removal of occupancy condition on upper flat applied under previous planning permission 10/00449/PP and change of use of ground floor retail unit to form additional residential flat ___________________________________________________________________”

“Planning permission is sought to change the use of a ground floor commercial unit to form a residential flat and to remove a previous planning condition which restricted the occupation of an existing managers flat above the unit to allow its future sale or letting on the open market.”

“The proposal relates to a ground floor unit with an attic flat above in the Douglas Centre which adjoins the northwest of the Douglas Hotel, located at the eastern end of Shore Road, Brodick. Unit 4 is adjoined by Unit 5 to the south which is used as staff accommodation by the Hotel and by the office of the Arran Banner newspaper to the north. Other uses within the Douglas Centre row include an opticians, a solicitors office and the office of a cleaning company.”

“Planning permission 10/00449/PP was previously granted in 2010 for the Change of use of an attic storage area to form managers accommodation. Condition 1 of that permission stated that the residential accommodation was to be occupied solely as staff accommodation in association with Unit 4 Douglas Centre and was not to be sold or let separately.”

“In terms of the planning history of unit 4, planning permission 10/00449/PP was granted subject to conditions in 2010 for Change of Use of attic storage unit to form managers accommodation following the earlier refusal of 10/00140/PP for Change of use of storage unit to form dwellingflat.”

“Given the policy considerations above, the residential use of the unit would accord with the policies and there would be no significant adverse effects on the overall retail offer of the village centre. The proposal therefore complies with the relevant policies.”

“The outdoor seating terrace of the Hotel would be immediately to the front but it is considered that would only present a reasonable level of noise or disturbance to occupants, given that its operation would remain within the control of the Licensing Authority in any case. There would be no expected significant adverse effects on the expected residential amenity of any other properties. The proposal also there accords with Strategic Policy 2.”

“RESPONSE: Noted. The proposal is assessed against the relevant criteria of the Development Plan in the following Analysis. Active Travel and Transport was consulted on potential impacts on parking and the public road network and the response follows.”

“ACTIVE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT: No objection. As this is a town centre re-development no dedicated parking is required but on-street public parking, currently unrestricted, is available nearby.”

“OBJECTION: The Douglas Centre was originally designed and built for commercial/office use. Small commercial units of this size are still unusual in Brodick and should be retained as such. If domestic accommodation were allowed in Unit 4 that would set a precedent for the whole of the Douglas Centre to become domestic dwellings.”

“RESPONSE: It is noted that residential accommodation has been previously approved in the upper levels of several of the units but the only residential occupation granted for the ground floor units thus far has been for staff and/or guest accommodation for the Douglas Hotel in Unit 5.”

“NPF 4 does not contain any policies restricting the loss of commercial units which are not deemed viable by the owners. Whilst Brodick does not have a specifically identified Town Centre, it is considered that Policy 27 of NPF4 (Town Centre Living) is relevant.”

“The Douglas Centre is therefore over 380 metres away from the main concentration of retail shops in Brodick village and the loss of this small repair shop would not have a significant adverse effect on the viability of the main shopping area.”

“Submitted a report by the Chief Planning Officer seeking permission for removal of occupancy condition on upper flat applied under previous planning permission 10/00449/PP and change of use of ground floor retail unit to form additional residential flat.”

“The Committee unanimously agreed to approve planning permission.”

“Given the foregoing, the proposals accords with the relevant provisions of the development plan. The ground floor unit can therefore be changed to a residential flat and accordingly, there is no longer any requirement for the planning condition linking the flat above to the lower commercial use. Planning condition 1 of 10/00449/PP has therefore served its purpose and can be removed.”

“It is therefore recommended that planning permission be granted both for the proposed change of use and the removal of a condition of 10/00449/PP. There are no other material considerations not addressed above and no requirement to apply any planning conditions.”