Discussions about the future of Sheffield city centre have stepped up a gear this year.<\/p>\n
Hopes are high a retail quarter may emerge from the ashes of the Sevenstone development and debate rages about the proposed demolition of independent street shops on Devonshire Street.<\/p>\n
What we can’t deny is that city centres have to bend and sway with the winds of change. They have to adapt to survive. Perhaps the most significant shift in recent years is the rise in demand for residential and student accommodation, a trend that continues to drive local property development.<\/p>\n
The surge of apartment blocks pre-recession was predicted to be a blot on our urban landscape.<\/p>\n
But our appetite for city centre living survived the crash – helped by an annual influx of undergraduates – and there is still a market for new and innovative places to live.<\/p>\n
Opportunities abound for savvy owners to consider a change of use on buildings that could be given a new lease of life. Planning permission on commercial properties falls into classes, ranging from A1 for shops to C3 for dwelling houses. An outline application for change of use can be made to establish whether the proposed development is acceptable. This is usually the first step, as fewer details are required, but if permission is granted, approval of reserved matters must be obtained before work starts.<\/p>\n
When making a decision, the planning authority takes into account a number of factors, such as overshadowing, adequate parking and servicing, design and appearance noise and disturbance.<\/p>\n
There are a number of issues that are not material considerations and cannot form part of the authority’s decision, often to the surprise of objectors. These include loss off view, boundary disputes, the applicant’s motives and loss of trade or competitors. Applications may be refused, granted unconditionally or approved subject to conditions, if the authority thinks the development needs to be regulated. The National Planning Policy Framework states conditions may only be imposed if they are necessary, relevant, enforceable, precise and reasonable. The time is right for commercial property owners to get on board the bandwagon and make the most of your investment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Discussions about the future of Sheffield city centre have stepped up a gear this year. Hopes are high a retail quarter may emerge from the ashes of the Sevenstone development and debate rages about the proposed demolition of independent street shops on Devonshire Street. What we can’t deny is that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1491],"tags":[1586,561,1154,1921,1980,2034],"class_list":["post-909","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial-property-2","tag-city-centre-living","tag-commercial-property","tag-planning-permission","tag-retail","tag-sheffield-city-centre","tag-the-national-planning-policy-framework"],"yoast_head":"\n