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DCLG Consultation
Another new permitted development right
The government is now consulting on a proposal to give prior permission to conversion from A1 retail and A2 Financial and Professional services uses to C3 residential. That is a shop or financial services unit will be allowed to change to a residential unit without having to apply for permission for a change of use.
This will not include HMOs, Houses in Multiple Occupancy, but will include creation of up to 4 flats / apartments. This follows previous relaxations including COU from Office to residential.
See link for summary of changes already introduced.
To access the Consultation Document See link
Responses are invited until 15 October 2013.
It is not clear at present how this right will work with the Bristol Local Plan policy andNeighbourhood Development Plans setting out where retail units should be located.
It does seem to be at odds with the stated aim of the Localism Act to “pass power back to where it belongs”
Carriageworks consultation
The consultation is part of a wider plan to support Bristol City Council to secure the redevelopment of this site through the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers of
Westmoreland House and the Carriageworks on Stokes Croft.
Details of consultation events are all on the Carriageworks website
Funding for community right to buy planning applications
The Government’s Homes and Communities Agency has announced £17m of new funding to support community groups to prepare, and make, planning applications for construction projects (see link for further details).
There are Bristol based firms such as ph3design, who offer initial free consultations to help you.