The rejection of plans to demolish a former newsagents and build several flats in its place has been appealed.
Plans for a shop on Worcester Road, Malvern, to be knocked down and a four-storey residential building to be built were rejected by Malvern Hills District Council in February following concerns the adverse impacts would significantly outweigh any benefits.
Consultants, including the area’s councillor, Neville Mills, and Worcestershire’s Highway department, criticised the development for its lack of off-street parking, with only two dedicated parking spaces for the nine bedrooms in the building.
Malvern Civic Society also shared concerns that the proposal would break up the coherent shopping parade along Worcester Road.
Planning agent Nick Carroll Architects has launched an appeal on behalf of the applicant, Capital 42 Limited, to overturn the decision made by the council.
The appeal said: “The existing building is vacant, dormant, and in a severe state of structural degradation.
“The structural report confirms serious structural safety concerns that necessitate demolition.
“The proposed scheme delivers high-quality mixed-use development, bringing a commercial space and four much-needed housing units to an urban, highly sustainable location.”
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The appeal responded to the main concerns raised during the consultation, including the disruption of commercial frontage, with the appeal stating the ground-floor commercial space would be maintained, and that total demolition is needed for the site to be used for any future development.
In response to concerns about the lack of off-street parking, the appeal argued that the parking standards should be applied flexibly in ‘highly sustainable’ infill locations where there is lower car ownership.
PLANS: What 86-88 Worcester Road could look like if the refusal is overturned (Image: Nick Carroll Architects // Malvern Hills District Council)
The appeal concluded: “The proposed scheme effectively regenerates a decaying structurally unsound building on a constrained urban infill lot.
“Give the council’s housing land supply shortfall, the significant public benefits of delivering new homes, active retail space structural remediation, and urban enhancement substantially outweigh any limited harm.
“The inspector is respectfully requested to allow the appeal and grant planning permission.”
The appeal will now be sent to the national planning inspectorate to make a final decision on the development’s future.
