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Planning permission may be granted
for residential use above shops and other business premises.
The Department will encourage the
provision of housing close to, and within, town and village centres,
provided that the central area retail and commercial functions are
not prejudiced.
Vacant space, over shops and offices, in town and village centres is
commonplace. The Living over the Shop (LOTS) project was set up in
1989 in Great Britain to demonstrate the feasibility and economic
viability of using vacant space above shops and to demonstrate ways
in which wasted space can be brought back into use, usually for
affordable rented housing.
The re-use of existing vacant space is a cost-effective means of
creating additional housing accommodation with other benefits to the
social life and economic vitality of the town. For example the
fabric of the property is put into good repair and maintained, there
may be increased security for commercial premises, and public may be
available for repair and renovation. The combination of these
practical improvements, and the subsequent rental income, enhances
the capital value of the property. The supply of housing is
increased; town centres remain populated outside business hours; a
resident population may increase economic activity in the town;
pressure on green field sites is reduced; and the preservation of
buildings of architectural and historic interest may be assisted.
LOTS schemes could make a significant contribution to the
enhancement of town and village centres and offer opportunities for
supporting urban regeneration policies.
Planning permission may be granted for residential use above shops
and other business premises in Use Classes 1, 2 and 3 of the
Planning Order, provided they comply with normal planning and
environmental considerations. For example, they should have
satisfactory accesses, facilities for the storage of fuel and refuse
and space for clothes drying.
The level of car parking provision which would be appropriate will
be considered in the circumstances of each particular case. |
