PLANNERS have rejected an application to allow office space above an Indian restaurant in Warrington, due to an unsightly metal fire escape at the rear of the premises.
The application involves the site of the Chennai Indian restaurant at Glazebury, an inset settlement within the Green Belt.
The main building, originally built as a public house, is located in the northern half of the site and on the junction of Warrington Road and Lately Common, a no-through road leading to Ward End’s Farm and residential properties lying to the west of the application site. The southern half of the site provides a parking area for the business.
The rear garden of a row of terraced properties run along the southern boundary of the site. A neighbouring residential property also borders the western boundary of the site.
The site lies within Flood Zone 3, although benefits from flood defences.
The proposal involved a change of use of the first floor of the site from a restaurant to offices. The ground floor of the site will remain a restaurant. The alterations to the exterior of the building include a metal staircase giving access to the first floor, which has already been constructed. An uncovered bin area and a cycle stand are proposed next to the staircase. These
alterations will be on the building’s elevation facing Warrington Road. The submitted plans indicate that 3 parking spaces will be allocated for the office’s use between the hours of 8 am-6 pm.
Planners say the change of use for part of the site from a restaurant to offices is a change that does not require planning permission, both being in the same use class and as such an assessment of the impact on the amenity of the surrounding area is not required.. Given that the proposal involves minor changes to the exterior of the building, of which none of the nearby
dwellings will have a direct outlook, the proposed development will not have unacceptable detrimental impacts on the amenity of residents.
The rear of the Chennai Indian restaurant
However, the proposal’s alterations to the exterior of the existing building include the installation of a metal staircase on the elevation facing Warrington Road. This is to provide access to the first floor of the site which has already been built. The design of the staircase, metal and industrial in appearance, does not harmonise well with the building, the existing street scene and the wider area.
The area beyond the application site is typified by residential dwellings further south and open, greenfield land bordered by mature trees on the other side of the road to the restaurant and further north. The staircase is therefore assessed to not be in keeping with the area and to be detrimental to its character. A small bin area, with storage for three or four bins, is also proposed next to the staircase, this has not yet been built. No cover or screening bins is indicated on the plans. The assessment made of the staircase is also considered to apply to the proposed bin area. The staircase and bins will combine to create an unpleasing visual addition at the side of the road which will not harmonise well with the area and have a detrimental impact on its character.
The metal staircase that has been built and the bin area that is to be provided to the exterior of the building, has an unacceptably intrusive and detrimental impact on the street scene and the character of the area.
Warrington Borough Council planners have rejected the application.
