Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Mon 20 May 2024

The proposals seek to convert the existing garage to a home-based beauty business at the above-mentioned property. The Local Highway Authority (LHA) would not wish to raise any in-principle objections to the proposed development.

The partial conversion of the garage was consented under application 20/00065/FUL and the comments from the LHA highlighted that whilst the partial conversion would lead to a loss in off-street parking provision, the remaining hardstand was able to accommodate at least 2x off-street parking spaces. Therefore, the application was recommended for approval on this basis.

As such, the conversion of the remaining garage would not give rise to concerns over loss of parking as it is not big enough to contribute to the off-street parking supply at the property. However, due to the proposed change in use to a home-based beauty business, the parking demand at the property will increase as a result.

It is understood that the property as existing is a 5-bed dwelling therefore attracting a parking demand of 3x spaces. The introduction of a home salon would increase the parking demand by 1x space in accordance with the indicative parking standards within the SPD.

In order to increase the parking provision at the site, the applicant intends to extend the existing hardstanding. The new proposed hardstand is able to sufficiently accommodate the off-street parking requirements for both the existing dwelling and the proposed beauty business. Therefore, it is considered that the site is self-sufficient in its parking needs.

In addition to enlarging the hardstand, it appears that the applicant also intends to extend the existing vehicle crossing and dropped kerb by approximately 1.8m in order to better facilitate access to the off-street parking spaces. Network Management have advised that there would be no in-principle objections to an extension to the crossing/dropped kerb. It should be noted that separate approval will need to be obtained from Network Management prior to these works taking place.

The submission details inform that the business will operate from between 3 and 4 days for a maximum of 27 hours per week, that only 1x member of staff will be employed at the site and that an average of 4-5 clients will be seen per day (maximum of 20x per week).

The LHA would recommend that appointments are dealt with via a prior appointment booking system and that these are also dealt with on a one-in, one-out basis. In addition, sufficient time between appointments should be given to prevent an overlap of customers arriving/departing to aid in the use of the customer parking space and prevent unwanted overspill parking on the adjacent highway network.

As stated within paragraph 111 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), development should only be prevented or refused on highway grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would be severe. With regard to this proposed development and the associated additional vehicle movements and parking demand generated, the LHA consider that any added vehicle attraction arising as part of the change of use would be insignificant and would not give rise to unacceptable levels of harm of the local highway network.

In conclusion, the applicant has demonstrated that additional parking provision to serve the business use can be provided on site, independent of the spaces required for the existing residential use. The additional vehicle attraction generated as part of the proposed development is not considered to give rise to any severe impacts on the operation of the highway network and for these reasons the LHA would not wish to raise any in-principle objections to the proposed development.

Recommendations:

Support
No objection
No objection subject to appropriate mitigation (as identified below) X
Object to application

Planning conditions:
INFORMATIVE: KERB LOWERING
Before the access hereby approved are first brought into use it will be necessary to secure dropped kerbs and footway crossings with the consent of the Local Highway Authority. The applicant should contact Plymouth Highways for the necessary approval. Precise details of all works within the public highway must be agreed with the Highway Authority.




The proposed development has been considered in accordance with the Councils current Development Plan Policies and having regard for the National Planning Policy Framework.



Abbie Perry

Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

20/05/2024

Comment Date: Fri 17 May 2024

950683_Consultation Response 2.pdf

Comment Date: Wed 15 May 2024

LLFA consultation response 24.00182.FUL.pdf