Prior approval for conversion of first floor to a single apartment, together with conversion of the roof space to create additional residential floor space. Alterations to first floor windows on the front elevation to accommodate the roof conversion works

Prior Notification - The development consists of retention of offices to the ground floor and conversion to apartments to the first and second floor. This following the precedence set for buildings immediately adjacent the application site. The design and layout of the apartments ensures all apartment will have external windows to ensure natural light and suitable usage as a residential dwelling.

The proposals are to change the use of the building to provide 45 residential units; 8 on the ground floor, 12 on the first, 13 on the second and 12 on the third. The proposed internal layouts are indicated on the drawings that accompany the application. All dwellings comply with the Nationally Described Technical Standards. Four of the proposed new flats will be formed within part of the existing undercroft carpark. Any external alterations required to facilitate the conversion and change of use such as changes to the existing fenestration and the formation of new infill walls to the flats undercroft car park and one flat on the second floor will be the subject of a separate application. Waste and recycling facilities, together with a secure cycle store to meet Local Authority standards will also be the subject of a future planning application and will be provided within the ground floor level courtyard where 18 carparking spaces will also be retained for residential use. A lockable raised arm vehicle barrier will be located at the top of the ramp to the basement carpark to prevent unauthorised access. A full Daylight Report accompanies this application. There are 86 habitable rooms within the proposals and in relation to the Average Daylight Factor the Daylight Report confirms that 91% of those (78 rooms) will meet or exceed the BRE target values for the room types. Of the 8 rooms that do not meet that target, 5 are lounge/kitchen/dining spaces and they achieve an ADF of at least 1.5% (the recommended target value for a living/dining room). In terms of Daylight Distribution 98% of all habitable rooms meet or exceed the target value recommended for daylight distribution levels within rooms. This means that 84 rooms will have direct access to sky via one, or more, windows over at least 80% for their plan area (the BRE recommended target value). The 2 rooms that do not meet this target fall only marginally short.