Southend Ambleside Drive shop transformation plan among applications

Applications received

1. 1 Ambleside Drive, Southend

Change of use of part of ground floor from retail use to residential, erect a single storey rear extension and convert the ground and first floor into two self-contained flats, layout parking spaces, with bin and cycle storage at the front.

2. The Cornucopia, 39 Marine Parade, Southend

The Cornucopia, a seafront pub believed to be the smallest in Essex, has permanently closed.

An application to turn it into a take-away has been submitted.

Applications approved

1. 41 Park Road Leigh

An application to raise the roof, install a dormer at the rear with Juliette balcony to form habitable accommodation in the loft space, erect a single storey side/rear extension, erect porch canopy to side and alter the elevations.

2. 90 - 92 Elm Road Leigh

Erect part single/part three storey rear extension with balconies to second floor level at rear, erect second storey front/side extension, alterations to front elevation and form residential entrance to front, convert building from two commercial units and two homes into two commercial units at ground floor level and four self-contained flats to ground, first and second floors. The plans also include secure cycle and bin storage.

Applications refused

1. 154 Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff

Change of use of existing home to a nine-person House of Multiple Occupants, erect a two storey rear extension and part single/part two storey side extension, layout parking, bin and cycle stores and form new vehicle crossover onto Springfield Drive.

Reason for refusal:

1. The proposed part single, part two storey side extension would, by reason of its significant width along the whole of the site frontage as well as the addition of two storey scale, appear as a contrived addition, disproportionate to and significantly out of keeping with the character and appearance of the application home. Together with the limited windows to this frontage and multiple roof forms proposed, this element would also appear contrived, awkward, and poorly resolved, resulting in significant harm to the character and appearance of the dwelling, the street scene and wider surrounding area.

2. 49 Gordon Road, Southend

Change of use from commercial, business and service into three self-contained flats on the lower ground, ground and first floors.

Reasons for refusal:

1. The proposed change of use, as amended, constitutes development requiring planning permission. The application has failed to demonstrate that the property has been vacant for a continuous period of at least three months immediately prior to the date of the application for prior approval and publicly available records suggest the contrary.
2. Flat two would fail to meet the overall minimum size standards required.
3. The development offers no reasonable mitigation of the in-combination effect of the net increase of three dwellings on habitats and species in accordance with the Habitats Regulations.