Location:
Liverpool City Council
Issue:
Securing a change of use from mixed use medical consulting rooms and residential to dual / alternative use as medical consulting rooms (Class Ee) and / or a single family home (Use Class C3).
How we helped and added value:
Having successfully obtained a rare permission for the dual / alternative use of a property as medical consulting rooms and / or a family home for the client at their property in Harley Street previously, DLBP was approached again by the same client to obtain a similar permission at a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse in a Conservation Area situated in the heart of Liverpool. This oft-forgotten facet of planning law can provide a greater deal of flexibility for the use of the property over a ten-year period, enabling the client to make best use of the asset over a significant period of time.
We immediately identified the validation requirements for a change of use application and ensured we had the necessary supporting information to proceed with submission. The application required careful navigation of the Council’s conservation policy as the building’s heritage value meant that any significant changes to the appearance or layout of the structure would require Listed Building Consent. Through close collaboration with the local planning authority, the architect and the Council’s Conservation Officer, we presented a proposal that avoided the need for Listed Building Consent. The Council agreed to the imposition of the aforementioned planning condition that would allow the applicant the flexibility of implementing the different uses for a period of ten years without further planning permission. We also successfully avoided the imposition of a number of restrictive conditions regarding opening hours, cycle parking, and Service Management Plans which had been imposed on similar planning applications.
DLBP’s specialist knowledge of the planning system enabled our client to take full advantage of lesser-known procedures and processes, providing an exclusive planning gain to the management of their asset. Our professional approach and attention to detail ensured that the application was swift, succinct, and successful.
