Nigel Pugsley, Head of the planning team at BNP Paribas Real Estate’s Southampton office, comments:
“Changes to the planning system brought about by the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework earlier this year, have made it easier for landlords of commercial property to secure alternative uses for vacant and hard to let space.
In March, the coalition government issued amended national planning guidance encouraging local planning authorities to consider applications for the alternative uses of commercial land and buildings favourably, provided that there are no strong economic reasons why such development would be inappropriate.
The current oversupply of old and outdated office floor space in region means that there is a real incentive for landlords to explore alternative uses for vacant and underused commercial land and premises, in order to appeal to a wider range of potential occupiers. Depending on location, alterative uses may include retail, leisure or even residential.
BNP Paribas Real Estate’s experienced team of chartered town planners and chartered surveyors at its Southampton office recently secured a flexible planning permission, permitting the use of poor quality ground floor office space close to Southampton Central Railway Station for retail, café and/or gym purposes.”
