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Case Study 03: Planning Appraisal for Change of Use From Offices to HMO for 15 Bedrooms in Conservation Area

The client instructed Homz to provide feasibility on their property for a Change of Use from Offices to HMO in West Berkshire Council. Our Senior Town Planner has conducted research within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to understand whether the local planning authority is applying any constraints on your property.

The proposed development aligns with local Planning policy guidelines, which prioritize residential expansion on existing developed land within designated settlement boundaries. The project entails repurposing the building, preserving its lower ground floor office space while converting the remaining sections into residential Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). This approach adheres to local regulations and is deemed acceptable in principle.

Given the property’s Grade II listed status and its location within a conservation area, meticulous consideration is imperative regarding both external and internal alterations. All modifications must uphold or improve the property’s historical and architectural significance, ensuring no adverse impact on its primary architectural features.

 After the planning appraisal, our Architects and Town Planners prepared the supporting documents Architectural Plans, and Planning Statements. Please see the plans of this project in our Portfolio. Our team has successfully submitted and managed the planning application with the council. Following the waiting period of the decision, Homz has scored another successful Approval for this planning application on behalf of our client.

Likelihood of Success: Provided that an appropriate application is lodged, this proposal should benefit from a reasonable – strong likelihood of success provided that an appropriate application is lodged to the Planning Authority. 

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FAQ

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  • How can you prepare the plans without visiting my house?

    Quite easily actually! We’ve been doing this since 2019 and have completed THOUSANDS of perfectly accurate drawing sets. We are basically offering clients a cost-saving process if they are happy to do this bit themselves.

    As we’re using official OS Maps to produce the drawings, we have accurate measuruments of your house already. The existing property does not need planning permission and we can get the exact measurements for existing property online.

    For anything not yet built there is nothing to see or measure, we can only draw what you ask for.