Shee House conversion bid rejected by Southend Council

Sicuro Ltd had been seeking planning permission to change the use of the dance studio at Shee House, in London Road, Leigh.

The proposals would have seen a commercial space created on the ground floor of the building, while the upper floors would have bene extended to make room for six flats.

The applicant said it had put forward the plans as it said the company running the dance studio was looking to relocate and it was unlikely a new tenant would be found.

How the converted building would have looked

Privacy screens were due to be installed in the flats, while residents would have shared a communal ground floor courtyard.

But the proposals have been rejected by planning officers who feared the new flats would lead to a loss of privacy for neighbouring buildings.

In their report, officers had said the conversion would have helped maintain the character of the site, but also said concerns over the lack of protection against noise disturbances for people living in the new flats was another reason for their rejection.

More than 30 letters of objection were sent into the council over the proposals.

Objectors highlighted concerns about the loss of community and education facilities, overdevelopment of the site and a lack of parking.

The proposals did not include any on site parking for residents of the new flats.

Sicuro Ltd has up to six months to appeal the decision made by Southend Council.