Plymouth office space to become homes

Employment space should be protected, says councillor

A Plymouth property which escaped The Blitz is to be fully returned to living accommodation despite a plea for it to remain as office space.

Cllr Steve Ricketts (Ind, Drake) urged Plymouth City Council’s planning committee not to allow the ground floor of 24 Queen Anne Terrace at North Hill into two flats.

The other floors of the three-storey building have already been converted into  living accommodation.

Cllr Ricketts said the number of planning applications for flats will change the character of North Hill and he will fight each one.

“It’s a great opportunity for somebody to make this a business and make the area a great location. The employment space needs to be protected.

“North Hill could be so much more than flats. We need to support the economy and have wider offers.”

He said the plans also fell below the recommended level of outdoor space.

But the committee heard the commercial part of the building had been empty for a year and a half. The rent had been reduced twice and is less than it was 15 years ago.

Planning agent Dan Atkins of Crown Architects said the applicants had found themselves “between a rock and a hard place.”

Upgrading the property for homes meant they would not break even for many years but it is better than having an empty office building especially when housing is urgently needed, he said.

He said there is public amenity space nearby at Drake’s Place and Beaumont Park.

Queen Anne Terrace was a row of domestic properties built in 1851 and this property had been used for offices for 10 per cent of the time since.

Some councillors were concerned by the size of the living accommodation. Cllr Anne Freeman (Lab, Devonport)  said damp and mould could be a problem without space outside to dry washing.

Cllr Alison Raynsford (Lab, St Peter and the Waterfront) said having lived for many years in small flat on a fifth floor with a small balcony, which had a green space to walk in nearby, she did not think loss of amenity was a deal breaker.

Planning committee chairman Cllr Bill Stevens (Lab, Devonport) said it is unusual to have a city centre dwelling of this age that escaped The Blitz and he supported it going back to its original use.

He said it is important that the city has a mix of properties as some people want flats like this while others with growing families seek larger properties with gardens.