Agenda item

Recommendations on pages 171 and 172

RESOLVED –

1)   That an extension to the Local Development Order is put in place to support the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme across the wider area

2)   The reason for the extension to the Local Development Order is tosupport the significant investment being made in improving the environmental quality of the Market Square in Shirebrook by

(i)            streamlining the planning process for the works that the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme is targeting,

(ii)          speeding up the delivery of grant money and subsequent improvements to the Town centre, and

(iii)         ensuring a consistent high quality of design is achieved that provides a long-lasting legacy that will benefit the local community, improve the character and appearance of the local area and improve the local economy.

3)   The Extended Local Development Order grants planning permission for alterations and improvements to shop frontages, including replacement windows and doors, new or replacement canopies, new or replacement cladding, new or replacement fascia, new or replacement shutters and similar items, for all premises located within the areas edged green, blue and red on the plan attached as Appendix A.1 operating either in an A1 Use (retail), A2 Use (professional offices), A3 Use (cafes), A4 Use (drinking establishments) or A5 Use (hot food takeaway) and/or Class E and Class F (business premises and community facilities)  at street level, subject to the following conditions:

o   Prior approval for the proposed alterations must be obtained from the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of any development;

o   The design of the proposed alterations and the final external appearance of the shop frontage must be in accordance with the design principles set out in the Shop Front Design Guide.

o   Any alterations approved under this Order must be completed within two years of approval

            Development not permitted:

o   There must be no alterations to the shape to the main roof over the existing premises.

4)        That the Order shall take effect following approval by the Executive. 

5)     That delegated authority be granted to the Planning Manager (Development Control) to grant and/or grant delegated powers to other officers in the Planning Service to grant prior approval for subsequent applications made under this LDO.

Executive considered the report of the Portfolio Holder – Corporate Governance which sought approval for an extension to the Local Development Order to grant planning permission for alterations and improvements to shop frontages in Shirebrook covered by the Phase 2 Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme.

The report set out the background to the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Controlling Migration Fund.

The scheme was supported by a Local Development Order that grants automatic planning permission for alteration to shop fronts in the Market Square providing that they were in accordance with the Shop Front Design Guide.

In March 2020, a further £375,000 funding had been secured through the Business Rates Pooling Pilot to fund a second phase of the scheme. This second phase would apply to Market Square, Kind Edward Street, Patchwork Row and Main Street. An extension to the Local Development Order was proposed to support this.

Members commented that the shop front alterations already completed in the first phase had greatly improved their appearances.

It was discussed that the local schools had been given an opportunity to contribute to the designs for the new shop fronts. The Shop Front Design Guide had received input from many local stakeholders.

Moved by Councillor Duncan McGregor and seconded by Councillor Liz Smyth

RESOLVED –

1)   That an extension to the Local Development Order is put in place to support the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme across the wider area

2)   The reason for the extension to the Local Development Order is to support the significant investment being made in improving the environmental quality of the Market Square in Shirebrook by

(i)            streamlining the planning process for the works that the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme is targeting,

(ii)          speeding up the delivery of grant money and subsequent improvements to the Town centre, and

(iii)         ensuring a consistent high quality of design is achieved that provides a long-lasting legacy that will benefit the local community, improve the character and appearance of the local area and improve the local economy.

3)   The Extended Local Development Order grants planning permission for alterations and improvements to shop frontages, including replacement windows and doors, new or replacement canopies, new or replacement cladding, new or replacement fascia, new or replacement shutters and similar items, for all premises located within the areas edged green, blue and red on the plan attached as Appendix A.1 operating either in an A1 Use (retail), A2 Use (professional offices), A3 Use (cafes), A4 Use (drinking establishments) or A5 Use (hot food takeaway) and/or Class E and Class F (business premises and community facilities)  at street level, subject to the following conditions:

o   Prior approval for the proposed alterations must be obtained from the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of any development;

o   The design of the proposed alterations and the final external appearance of the shop frontage must be in accordance with the design principles set out in the Shop Front Design Guide.

o   Any alterations approved under this Order must be completed within two years of approval

            Development not permitted:

o   There must be no alterations to the shape to the main roof over the existing premises.

4)        That the Order shall take effect following approval by the Executive. 

5)        That delegated authority be granted to the Planning Manager (Development Control) to grant and/or grant delegated powers to other officers in the Planning Service to grant prior approval for subsequent applications made under this LDO.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The reason for the extension to the Local Development Order was to support the significant investment being made in improving the environmental quality of the Market Square in Shirebrook by (i) streamlining the planning process for the works that the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme is targeting, (ii) speeding up the delivery of grant money and subsequent improvements to the Town centre, and (iii) ensuring a consistent high quality of design is achieved that provides a long-lasting legacy that will benefit the local community, improve the character and appearance of the local area and improve the local economy.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED:

When the original LDO was considered, the alternative options included ‘do nothing’ or ‘widen the scope’ of the proposed LDO. The do nothing option was rejected because this would have simply maintained the status quo and done nothing to support the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme. The do nothing option at this stage would have done nothing to support the Scheme across the wider town centre.

The option to “widen the scope” of the LDO was originally deferred rather than rejected because it was considered that it would be useful to understand how effective the original LDO had been. Funding for shop front repairs to other premises off Market Street had not been agreed under the terms of Phase two of the scheme that was being funded from Business Rates Pooling Pilot. As this funding had been secured the “widen the scope” to support the Shop Front Repairs Grants Scheme in the wider town centre was considered appropriate.