Planning Application Refused - Shop Front
Discussion
Hi all,
Posting this here as I think it will get more input than being on the business forums. My brother recently took out a long lease on a commercial shop premises which is in a conservation area in Hertfordshire. He plans to open a clothing store there and it was previously a sandwich shop. Planning use is no issue the place can be used as A1 or A3.
Once the lease was completed he applied for planning permission to change the wooden shop front which is in a very bad state of repair. There is rot on the wood and the base of the shop front has signs of movement too with cracking stone at the base. Furthermore the door is a glass and wood door which lets in major drafts and with a security point of view could probably be kicked open by a 10 year old.
The council have rejected the planning application based on concerns and comments from local residents who say the shop front has historical value and one had even gone to the extent of writing to the Victorian society! They say the shop has Victorian values and should be preserved and not taken down and replaced with a new aluminium and glass shop front.
The current shop front does not fit in with his business plan at all. There are also security issues and issues with drafts and even leafs blowing under the door in to in to the shop. They have even gone to the extent of saying he can't change the appearance of the shopfront which currently has half frosted glass and is painted green!
How can something like this be handled or reversed? He is also facing an uphill hassle of having the landlords on his side as they don't want to mess around with the local conservation committee and council. As a clothing boutique he needs a shop window and the bad state or repair needs to be looked in to.
Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks!
Posting this here as I think it will get more input than being on the business forums. My brother recently took out a long lease on a commercial shop premises which is in a conservation area in Hertfordshire. He plans to open a clothing store there and it was previously a sandwich shop. Planning use is no issue the place can be used as A1 or A3.
Once the lease was completed he applied for planning permission to change the wooden shop front which is in a very bad state of repair. There is rot on the wood and the base of the shop front has signs of movement too with cracking stone at the base. Furthermore the door is a glass and wood door which lets in major drafts and with a security point of view could probably be kicked open by a 10 year old.
The council have rejected the planning application based on concerns and comments from local residents who say the shop front has historical value and one had even gone to the extent of writing to the Victorian society! They say the shop has Victorian values and should be preserved and not taken down and replaced with a new aluminium and glass shop front.
The current shop front does not fit in with his business plan at all. There are also security issues and issues with drafts and even leafs blowing under the door in to in to the shop. They have even gone to the extent of saying he can't change the appearance of the shopfront which currently has half frosted glass and is painted green!
How can something like this be handled or reversed? He is also facing an uphill hassle of having the landlords on his side as they don't want to mess around with the local conservation committee and council. As a clothing boutique he needs a shop window and the bad state or repair needs to be looked in to.
Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks!
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