An application to convert first floor office space in Kingston's town centre into a residential flat has been refused this week.

The applicant, Thamesgate Property Ltd, sought permission for the "Change of use at first floor from office (Use Class E) to 1no. residential flat (Use Class C3)" for 42 Fife Road.

The planning application was related to a three-storey terraced property with commercial stores at the ground floor.

The proposed site falls within the Kingston Town Centre Key Area of Change and a primary and second shopping frontage.

The site also falls within an existing Article 4 Direction area, Kingston, which removes permitted development rights for the change of use from commercial, business, and services uses to residential use to changes under Class MA. 

The existing building is not listed, and the site is not within a Conservation Area.

Moreover, the site falls within Kingston Town Centre (Zone A/A1) Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) Area. The site has a Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) of 6a.

A total of 38 neighbouring properties were consulted for this application. However, no comments were received.

Kingston Council's Neighbourhood Traffic Engineer and Environmental Health Officer were also consulted.

The Council's Neighbourhood Traffic Engineer considered effects acceptable if the application were car-free.

However, a draft unilateral undertaking was not submitted with the application and therefore there was no agreement restricting residents from applying for on-street car parking permits. This is contrary to Policy T6 of the London Plan.

An application officer report said: "The exacerbation of on-street car parking pressures could lead to congestion and inconsiderate parking which may impact pedestrian and highway safety.

"Council's Environmental Health Officer recommended conditions are included to ensure noise levels do not exceed stand BS8233:2014 and to restrict the hours of building works."

In an application decision document, Head of Development Management, Barry John Lomax, said that the council's reasons for refusing this application were because "The proposed development, as a result of no Unilateral Undertaking being secured to prevent future occupiers from applying for resident parking permits within the Controlled Parking Zone, would result in unacceptable impacts on highway function and safety, contrary to Paragraph 116 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024, Policy T4 of the London Plan 2021 and, Policies DM9 and DM10 of the LDF Core Strategy 2012".

You can view the full application here.