Kingston Council has yesterday (Tuesday, 13 May) granted permission to convert Sheet Metal Works in Surbiton into dwellinghouses.

The application asked for the "change of use from industrial use (Use Class E(g)(iii)) to dwellinghouses (Use Class C3)".

The applicant, Mr Condello wishes to convert the site into a single two-bedroom four-person house.

The proposed house would retain the existing access and egress arrangements, car parking space, and bin servicing arrangements. Also proposed is a new external secure bike store, with a capacity for 6 bicycles, located at ground floor level. 

The Westfield Road site is approximately 292sqm in size, occupied by a single storey backland industrial building located in the land between Westfield Road and Cleveland Road. 

It is also located within a primarily residential area.

A total of 20 neighbouring premises were consulted. 14 responses were received, including 12 objections, one support and one representation.

Reasons for objection included noise and disturbance, overcrowding of the neighbourhood, highway safety, parking pressures, and more.

However, in an application document, Head of Development Management, John Lomax, said that the council will grant permission for Mr Condello's proposals because: "The development has been assessed against the provisions of Class MA of Schedule 2, Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development (England) Order 2015 (as amended) and found to comply with the required provisions".

You can view the full application here.