Wycombe DC adopts first local development order in UK
Wycombe District Council has become the first local authority to adopt a local development order, after it received government approval.
The LDO, which covers a 0.7 hectare block in High Wycombe town centre, allows the change of use of ground floor premises within the area to a specified range of uses, without the need to apply for planning permission.
Under the LDO, the ground floor uses that are allowed are:
- A1: shops (includes shops, hairdressers, travel and ticket agencies, post offices, dry cleaners, pet shops, sandwich bars, domestic hire shops)
- A2: financial and professional services (includes banks, building societies, estate and employment agencies, betting shops)
- A3: restaurants and cafes
- A4: drinking establishments (includes public houses, wine bars - but not night clubs)
- A5: hot food takeaways
- C1: hotels
- D1: non-residential institutions (includes art galleries, museums)
- D2: assembly and leisure (includes cinemas, bingo halls, but not night clubs).
The order is intended to last three years, although any changes of use implemented during that period can be retained permanently.
Permission is only granted for the range of uses in the order – the LDO does not grant permission for external physical or structural development, nor does it remove the need for listed buildings consent or advertisement consent where appropriate.
Wycombe has received government funding as part of a pilot project.
Cllr Jean Teesdale, the council’s cabinet member for planning and sustainability, said: “This local development order will allow us to take a more flexible approach to use classes and in turn help to revitalise this small but important part of the town which we appreciate has been suffering from a high rate of vacant units in recent months.”
Teesdale added that the council would be monitoring the success of the scheme over the next three years.
