Change of Use of Existing Mezzanine Floor - Public forum - Planning Advisory Service (PAS)
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Change of Use of Existing Mezzanine Floor
A planning applicaton has been submitted by a national clothing retailer for external alterations to the shop front to a store located within a retail park. The proposed floor plans show proposed internal changes including the change of an existing mezzanine floor (exceeding 200 m2) currently used for storage to retail floor space. There is no condition on the original consent for the store (year 2000) restricting the retail floor space within the building to a certain size. Considering both the lack of a condition limiting retail floor space and the fact that the mezzanine floor already exists, I am of the opinion that plannig permission is not required for the proposed internal changes relating to the change of the mezzanine floor from storage to retail floor space with a resultant increase in retail floor space of more than 200m2. I would welcome any comments regarding this interpretation, especially if you disagree with it.
Peter. I agree with you, whist there is a change of use of the mezzanine (from storage to retail), there will be no MATERIAL change of use with respect to the planning unit. It is only the latter that amounts to development as defined by the Act. Mike
The mezzanine floor often projects itself from the walls and does not completely close the view of the ceiling from the floor immediately below. In short, a mezzanine floor and the floor below it share the same ceiling.
Steve Speed - The Planning Jungle website, modified 11 Years ago.
Re: Change of Use of Existing Mezzanine Floor
Enthusiast Posts: 70 Join Date: 12/08/13 Recent Posts
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Hi Peter, I agree with you that, for a retail unit, planning permission would not normally be required to adjust the proportion between the floor space used for the display and sale of goods versus the floor space used for various ancillary activities (e.g. storage, staff facilities, etc), so long as the latter does indeed remain "ancillary". However, where you have to be very careful is if you receive an application for planning permission for (say) external works (e.g. a new shopfront, etc) where the submitted plans also show internal changes that would either increase or decrease the number of units within the property. Even though such internal changes to a commercial property (e.g. subdividing 1 unit to become 2 units, or combining 2 units to become 1 unit, etc) don't normally require PP, if you grant PP where the approved plans show such internal changes, then you risk starting a "new chapter" in the planning history of the property. This can result in all of the previous conditions to which the property was subject (e.g. restrictions on the types of goods sold, hours of opening, delivery hours, etc) no longer applying. A good example of the above risks is the following appeal decision: http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?caseid=2172749&coid=2172168 Steve