Proposals to convert a former shop in Highbridge into flats were approved by Sedgemoor District Councillors on Tuesday (February 17th) despite objections from the Town Council.
Sedgemoor Case Officer Liam Evans had recommended the plans to transform 14 Church Street – previously used as an architect’s shop – were approved at Tuesday’s Development Control Committee meeting.
The plans cover the change of use and conversion of the ground floor from an office to a flat, plus the demolition of an outbuilding and the erection of a building to form two flats.
Burnham and Highbridge Town Council had raised concerns about the development, saying: “Our members objected on the grounds that this would be an overdevelopment of the site.”
“The access would be poor and not suitable for the amount of car spaces and additional motor vehicle use, and on this objection the Town Council believe the District Council’s planning department has set a precedent when refusing planning permission for a similar development with the same access issues on a site at the side of the Post Office in Church Street,” explained a Town Council spokeswoman.
But Sedgemoor’s Case Officer Liam Evans recommended the plans were approved, saying: “The proposed change of use of the existing ground floor office to a residential unit will be consistent with the character and appearance of residential development along Church Street and will be of a scale and design which has no detrimental impact on the street scene. The two storey apartment building to the rear will also not affect the character and appearance of the area and will be of a design, density scale which is considered acceptable and in keeping with the pattern of development in the centre of Highbridge.”
Because the views of the Town Council were contrary to the officer’s recommendation, the application was debated by Sedgemoor’s Development Control Committee for a final decision.
