Scarborough Council has granted full permission for the conversion of a Whitby town centre shop into a holiday let.
The application to transform the vacant shop at Clarence House 32, Baxtergate, Whitby into a two-bedroom holiday flat was approved on August 15 and was submitted by Mr J. Livingstone and Mr J. O’Donnell.
The semi-basement unit, situated within Clarence House, a grade II listed building in Whitby town centre was previously in operation as a commercial unit.
The development, in the Whitby conservation area, also includes exterior works to restore the property frontage and forecourt, including alterations such as the installation of multi-paned sliding sash windows and a hardwood panelled door.
According to a report prepared by Scarborough Council, no objections were received from Whitby Town Council or the Highway Authority as long as a relevant licence was obtained from the latter authority.
The council’s environmental health team said that while they had “no objections in principle to the proposals” they would like to “see a condition restricting the use to holiday accommodation only”.
The health team said:
“The proposed arrangements for natural light and ventilation, in relation to the bedrooms, do not meet the standard for habitable rooms so the property cannot be used as permanent residential accommodation.”
The proposal also received four public objections as well as 10 representations in support of the plans.
The objections raised points regarding an overabundance of holiday lets “and not enough housing for local people”.
Other objections mentioned the loss of a retail unit in the town centre and “associated ‘comings and goings’ [which] would conflict with existing permanent residents within the flats above”.
The representations calling for the proposal to be approved said that the “development would result in a positive impact upon the appearance of the building and area” and that there was “no other use considered viable”.
Another comment cited the building’s history as a hotel offering visitor accommodation and suggested that as such a holiday let “would be consistent”.
According to the council’s report, although the vacant unit’s transformation into a holiday let “is not strictly viewed as a ‘town centre use’ as defined within policy” it was acknowledged that the “architectural composition of the building” means that unlike most buildings along Baxtergate, “the unit does not benefit from a shop front and is also set back from the main street – obscured from view by the adjoining buildings”.
The application was approved by Scarborough Council subject to the condition that “the accommodation is not suitable for permanent or independent occupation”.
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