'Too small' flats planned for empty store refused
GooglePlans to create eight apartments on the site of a vacant town centre department store have been refused.
The building, next to The Livery pub on on Redcar High Street, once housed a branch of Uptons which closed more than 25 years ago.
So-called prior approval was sought to convert the first and second floors into eight flats, with a separate entrance on the ground floor.
But Redcar and Cleveland Council records show the change of use application from retail space was refused in July, partially on the grounds that the proposed development did not meet minimum national space requirements.
Other planning concerns centered on the provision of adequate natural light into habitable rooms, including four flats - two on each floor - which would not have windows in the bedrooms.
Additional windows and glazed doors were included in the proposals.
An officer's report said: "The application site is attached to The Livery public house, therefore windows can't be provided to the bedrooms on the adjoining wall to the neighbouring units.
"The proposal fails to provide adequate natural light in all habitable rooms of the proposed apartments."
The report cited a two-bedroom flat with a proposed floor area of 56 sq m (602 sq ft) as an example, 5 sq m below those recommended under national space standards.
The development was refused on the grounds it was contrary to the council's local plan policy.
