Decision details

Change of Use from a Post Office, shop & dwellinghouse (Use class E) to dwellinghouse (Use class C3).

Note – All Members of the Planning Committee raised a non-pecuniary interest for transparency, by virtue of the fact that the Applicant was known to them and was a Councillor at South Lakeland District Council. All Members confirmed that they were not predetermined on this item and remained in the meeting during discussion and voting on the item.

The Planning Officer presented the report to Members. The proposal was described as an application for change of use from a Post Office, shop and dwellinghouse (Use Class E) to dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) at Main Street, Greenodd, Ulverston, LA12 7RB.

A site description was provided along with slides of photographs and a site location plan. A slide listing key issues with the changes were presented, the principle issue being the loss of community facility. The viability of the shop is not sustainable, no profit had been made. Passing trade had reduced significantly and the site was located on a one way street.

The application was presented to Planning Committee due to the Applicant being a South Lakeland District Council Councillor.

Members were updated on the recent development that the Post Office Outreach Service had been relocated to the village hall on a part time service basis since the publication of the report.

The Planning Officer relayed the fact that the Post Office support had been streamlined in recent years with its’ being service reduced and the shop had continued to provide support to the local community. Members discussed whether the facilities offered by the Post Office could be provided elsewhere and they were advised by the Planning Officer that there were other local businesses providing essential produce And that a newsagents in Ulverston was prepared to deliver to the village.

The Planning Officer described how no alterations internally or externally were planned in the proposals and explained that there would be no impact to the street scene other than a reduction in traffic and more parking..

Speaker – Councillor Janet Willis – Applicant, spoke in support of the Application.

In response to a query regarding the original use of the property, the Planning Officer noted that they did not know the planning history of the property and when it had been converted to a business.

A motion to approve the Application was proposed and seconded and a vote was taken and it was

RESOLVED – That the application be approved subject to:

Condition (1):

The development hereby permitted shall begin not later than three years from the date of this decision.

Reason: To comply with the requirements of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Condition (2):

The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans:

•           Site location plan, received 21 February 2022

•           Ground Floor Plan, received 21 February 2022

•           Lower Ground Floor Plan, received 21 February 2022

•           First Floor Plan, received 21 February 2022

•           Second Floor Plan, received 21 February 2022

•           Garden Plan, received 21 February 2022

•           Existing/proposed elevations (no changes), received 28 March 2022

Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.