Issue - meetings

Proposed development for the change the use of an existing property to form 13no. self-contained residential flats (C3 use) along the lower ground floor, ground floor, first, second and third floor. The proposal also seek to retain an element of commercial floor area on the ground floor to be put forward for (A1) retail purposes.

LOCAL MEMBERS: Councillors Dylan Fernley and Nigel Pickavance

Link to relevant background documents

DECISION: To approve the application subject to the following conditions:

1.     Time five years

2.     In accordance with the plans

3.     Restrict the use to C3 use class residential dwellings only

4.     Restrict the construction hours

5.     Sound insulation measures must be imposed and agreed.

6.     The objectives of the Green Infrastructure Statement must be implemented

7.     Affordable housing condition

Notes:

Welsh Water Note

Proposed development for the change of use of an existing property to form 13 self-contained residential flats (C3 use) along the lower ground floor, ground floor, first floor, second and third floors. The proposal also sought to retain an element of commercial floor area on the ground floor for retail purposes (A1). 

The Senior Planning Officer highlighted that this was a full application to change the use of the existing building into 13 residential flats with the plan to retain an element of floor area for retail use on the ground floor. The flats would be located over the 5 floors with access to the flats through stairs at the rear of the building and access to the retail area from the high street. The development would include a refuse storage and bicycle storage on the ground floor. The self-contained flats would be a C3 use and the retail area would be an A1 use and the front of the shop would remain the same. The work would not involve any external work. 

The building was located in the middle of Bangor High Street, within the development boundary of the Sub-regional Centre as defined in the LDP. It was located within a Conservation Area and within the Defined Town Centre and Main Shopping Area. 

Reference was made to the indicative supply level of housing for Bangor over the period of the LDP, noting that the provision was already being met through the sites in the land bank. In such circumstances, consideration would be given to the units that had been completed thus far within the Main Centres tier. It was considered that by adding 13 residential units to the housing stock, the development which was subject to this application would help to contribute towards the housing targets of the LDP in a way that responded positively to the requirements of the local housing market.⁠ It was elaborated that the size and type of dwellings proposed was an appropriate mix of housing provision and complied with Policy TAI 8. 

The application was being submitted to the Committee as it was a development for five or more dwellings. 

It was considered that the proposed use was acceptable and met the policy requirements. The officers recommended to approve the application with conditions. 

Taking advantage of the right to speak, the Agent made the following observations: 

·        The application involved the conversion of an empty building on Bangor High Street to form 13 flats and a retail area 

·        The building, which was a former bank, had been empty since April 2023 and had not been used since then

·         The proposal offered a suitable use of the building which would meet the housing requirements locally and the viability of the High Street 

·        Marketing research from estate agents had highlighted that there was a specific demand for rental flats with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms.

·         Although student accommodation houses were available in Bangor, there was a lack of dwellings for professional individuals, couples and small  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9