Since the downturn in the economy, many commercial buildings have been let at low rents or left vacant. As a result, Fuller Long have helped clients realise the full potential of redeveloping commercial land and putting it to a good use! One example of this is was the proposal of 9 residential dwellings on a site used as an auto centre in Egham, Surrey. With the Planning Officers initially recommending refusal on the basis of a loss of an employment site, Fuller Long’s determination and thorough consultation saw the project gain planning approval. The key to securing planning consent was the ability to demonstrate the benefits of a residential site outweighing the loss of an employment site. Our involvement included full project management including-
- the submission of a Market Study and site assessment which confirmed that business uses were economically unviable due to nature and cost of refurbishment to meet business needs,
- the justification that the proposal met the Council’s need for housing
- pre-application discussions with officers with regard to detailed design
- the justification that the site was a sustainable location for residential use. It was a brownfield site, close to local services and public transport, and was within an existing residential street. This is supported by the National Planning Policy Framework’s (NPPF) presumption in favour of sustainable development, which is a key policy document in planning decision making.
With the weight of the NPPF, as well as the importance of providing a realistic assessment of business needs, Fuller Long were able to gain approval. If you wish to discuss your redevelopment or residential opportunities with one of our planning consultants please contact us on 0808 164 1288 for a no obligation conversation.
