Newport Rd, Caldicot office building to be two flats
The only external alterations to the property will be to reduce the size of the front window and to install solar panels on the south side of the roof.
Planning history shows the building has previously been a Chinese takeaway and a laundry before being converted to offices and the report by Monmouthshire County Council planning officer Kate Young, approving the change of use, states it 'may once have been a residential property'.
Only one neighbour responded to a consultation on the change of use and they believed it was previously a residential property and said more housing is needed in the area and that it would be 'better maintained as a residential property rather than an empty commercial unit'.
No new parking spaces will be provided but Ms Young said though the council's guidance would normally require four parking spaces be provided its planning policy states if the provision cannot be reasonably achieved on town centre sites 'suitable alternative provision should be made'.
Ms Young said 'several' public car parks are within walking distance which could serve the flats and also said 'it could be argued' the residential use will have less impact on parking than the previous office use.
According to applicant Malcolm Webb the building's last use was a commercial shop front with offices and said while it isn't known when it was last in use it is thought to have been around two years ago.
No contribution to affordable housing is required and conversions of commercial buildings of one to four homes are exempt from the requirement.
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