Developer wins appeal to convert office block

AN office block in Henley will be converted into 25 flats following an appeal.

The Hub Management Company will develop the building in Station Road, known as “The Hub”, following a decision by the planning inspectorate.

It overruled the refusal of planning permission handed down by South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority.

Plans include an extension into the roof to facilitate the creation of seven of the flats, which had been approved by the council in August.

Now the appeal has been allowed, the new development will now comprise
22 two-bedroom flats and three one-bedroom flats.

It will utilise 39 existing car parking spaces including undercroft and at the front of the site  and in the Station Road car park.

The building is currently occupied by solicitors Kealy Farmar, environmental consultants Quintessa and corporate finance firm HMT LLP.

A total of 94 cycle parking spaces will also be included, as will two paved courtyards accessible to two of the ground floor flats.

The district council refused the plans in December, saying they would result in the loss of existing office spaces in a town centre without evidence demonstrating the site was unviable as an employment site.

It added that the Juliet balconies proposed at the back of the building would “create an unsuitable relationship” with neighbouring properties in Hewgate Court and Station Road.

Additionally, it said the developer had failed to provide adequate amenity space or 40 per cent affordable housing. This followed an objection from Henley Town Council, which said it did not provide any affordable housing.

It also had concerns of the overall size of the proposal and potential to impact the privacy and light of neighbouring properties.

The Henley Society, a conservation group, and seven residents also submitted objections.

Their concerns included the impact on the street scene, loss of privacy for neighbouring properties, loss of sky visibility and light and increased congestion from additional occupants.

Amended plans, which removed first and second floor balconies at the rear of the building in response to concerns about the impact on neighbouring properties, were included as part of the appeal.

The developer also submitted documents demonstrating the site had been marketed for commercial use and that a financial viability appraisal had determined the site would be unviable to deliver affordable housing.

The planning inspectorate approved the appeal on after concluding that any adverse impacts of the development would not outweigh the benefit.

Inspector E Worley said the development provided benefits in terms of housing supply and the development of under-utilised land for housing, which are both key objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.

As part of a Section 106 agreement, the company will provide a financial contribution towards public transport infrastructure, including real time information screens at Station Road bus stop.