On the 30th July 2019, SF Planning Limited on behalf of our Client working with KW Reed Associates and wider consultant team, secured a resolution to grant planning permission from Kettering Borough Council Planning Committee for the regeneration of the upper floors of no.17 Lower Street in Kettering Town Centre. The scheme involves the conversion of the first and second floors of the building from its former use as a telephone exchange and the creation of a new third floor to provide 33 no. flats with associated works.
The proposals were submitted on the back of positive and proactive pre-application discussions with planning officers at Kettering Council, with initial comments taken on board and the scheme reduced and refined in design terms. This scheme will optimise the use of this brownfield site, the upper floors of which have been vacant for some 20 years and are surplus to requirements for commercial use.
Our justification for the proposals included a robust planning statement which highlighted the NPPF and local development plan both strongly support the development of brownfield land in town centre locations. We included analysis of a detailed marketing report undertaken by a reputable local agent which indicated a surplus of commercial premises within the vicinity and the unsuccessful marketing of the building. The Council also accepted our Vacant Building Credit justification to minimise the requirements for on site affordable housing and ensure a viable scheme could come forward.
Amendments to the scheme as a result of our positive discussions with the planning officer responded to the one representation submitted on behalf of an adjacent commercial use in relation to noise, with SF Planning Limited commissioning further survey work to overcome concerns.
The site is a highly sustainable location for additional residential development since it has excellent public transport links with numerous bus stops, services and Kettering train station all close by. Significant levels of on site, secure cycle parking are also proposed in a dedicated store within the development, all of which provided justification for the development in transport terms which is “car free.”
For more information on this project please contact Paul Jenkins.
