Consultation draws to a close
A consultation about plans to protect key business and office space in the St Albans District is drawing to a close.
Anyone interested in the initiative to protect business premises in certain areas from conversion into flats and houses has until Wednesday 17 May to give their views.
The proposals are aimed at ensuring companies that boost the local economy and provide jobs are not pushed out of the area.
A number of business premises have been turned into homes in recent years as residential property prices have risen.
Under national rules, owners of business premises have the right to change their use to residential without planning permission from their Council. This is known as permitted development.
St Albans City and District Council wants to apply restrictions know as Article 4 Directions. That will mean owners in nine designated areas will no longer have that right.
Instead, they will have to apply to the Council for planning permission for conversions. With the Council committed to retaining key business properties, such applications are likely to be refused.
The Article 4 Directions will cover change of use from office, light industrial, storage and distribution to residential.
The proposal went out for consultation in March for eight weeks with owners of affected properties and local businesses among those asked for their views.
A meeting of the Council’s Cabinet is to be given an update on the progress of the consultation at its meeting on Thursday 27 April.
All representations will be considered before the Council decides whether to go ahead with the initiative. Any change will not come into force before 22 March next year.
Whatever the Council puts forward will be subject to modification or cancellation by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
St Albans Chamber of Commerce, which represents the local business community, supports the proposal.
Anyone wishing to make a submission during the consultations can do so by emailing: planning.policy@stalbans.gov.uk
The designated areas that are being consulted on for the Article 4 Direction are: Brick Knoll Park, Alban Park-Acrewood Way-Lyon Way, North Orbital Trading Estate, Porters Wood-Soothouse Spring, City Station, City Centre, Abbey Station, all in St Albans; plus Coldharbour Lane and Southdown Industrial Estate, in Harpenden.
Tracy Harvey, the Council’s Head of Planning and Building Control, said: “This is an important consultation on a major issue and it is has now passed the half way mark.
“We want to hear the views of all those affected and urge anyone who has yet to submit a representation to do so now.”
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City District Council
Tel: 01727 296130
E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk