We secured planning permission and listed building consent to change the use of a Grade II* office building to a residential dwelling, within a Conservation Area.

The Brief

Our client’s objective was to convert their office building into a five bedroom residential dwelling in the centre of Bristol. The building was Grade II* Listed and formed part of a listed Georgian terrace within a Conservation Area.

Owing to policies restricting the loss of office space within the city centre, along with the building being a heritage asset, Atlas Planning Group were instructed to prepare, submit and manage the full planning and Listed Building Consent application.

Our Solution

So that we could fully understand the context and significance of the Grade II* Listed Building, we visited the site to undertake a photographic record of the building. Here, we were able to understand the characteristics of the building that were historic and of importance. We were also able to fully understand the office’s ability to be successfully converted into a dwelling, without harming its significance.

To support the full planning and listed building consent application, we prepared a Planning and Heritage Statement, which incorporated historic maps, a detailed analysis of the building and the development’s compliance with policies regarding the historic environment and the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. We demonstrated that the office building could be converted without harming the architectural and historic interest of the Listed Building.

 

To address the policies which resisted the loss of offices, we used appeal precedents and other recent and nearby planning permissions to support our arguments in favour of the scheme. Through researching the planning history of a neighbouring property, it became clear that a marketing exercise would not be necessary and that the restoration of the building to its original use, far outweighed the use of the building as an office.

Within the Planning Statement, we outlined sustainability measures and assessed the proposals in terms of highway safety, residential amenity and the impact of the development on the character and appearance of the area.

Project Success

The Conservation Officer held no objections to the scheme and despite initial apprehensions regarding the loss of the office, the Planning Officer accepted our arguments to change the use of the building into residential. The application was therefore approved without delay.