Change of use plans to turn a commercial property situated not far away from the award-winning South Beach in Lowestoft into mixed use have been turned down.

The change of use bid "from full commercial to mixed use" had earmarked retaining the commercial Top Fade barber shop business at the ground floor of the building at 243 London Road South in Kirkley with "self-contained residential accommodation" on the first floor.

Plans from applicant Mr Sarhang Amini, on behalf of A243, had been lodged with East Suffolk Council in January.

However, the application was refused last week under delegated council powers.

With the site area of the building measuring 100sq m, it earmarked two new flats being created above the barber shop.

Documents said: "The proposal is a change of use of the existing building only - barber shop ground floor, residential upstairs."

With Lowestoft Town Council issuing a holding objection "until clarification has been received on the measurements of the rooms," a delegated report from the council's case officer said that after inspecting the site and reviewing the proposed plans, "the entire rear of the ground floor of the building has been converted to living accommodation, comprising lounge, kitchen and lobby area, leading to first floor bedroom accommodation."

With retrospective permission sought for the mid-terrace two storey building, it added: "Based on an inspection of the site, the change of use to a mixed residential and retail development, is not considered to create a good standard of living accommodation for current or future occupants.

"No indication is shown on the submitted plans or a site inspection of suitable areas for refuse/recycling storage, cycle storage or access to outside amenity space for clothes drying."

With the recommendation to refuse the change of use plans, it added: "It is therefore considered that the proposal, to convert this building to a mixed use development, would constitute an unacceptable form of residential development that would fail to provide an adequate standard and quality of living accommodation for future occupants.

"The application is therefore contrary to policies."

© Eastern Daily Press