INNOVATIVE ARCHITECTS in Lees are leading their field after becoming the first company in the borough to use new Planning Permitted Development Rights.
Whittaker Design, established in 1972, submitted plans under the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013, which aims to stimulate growth through development and reuse of redundant properties.
In partnership with First Choice Investments, Whittaker Design partners Lee Hollinworth and Alan Doherty had secured planning permission for ‘change of use’ on a redundant site in Hathershaw to provide nine residential units.
The company then purchased a redundant office building in Derker, which is a former gatehouse to the Prince of Wales Mill and now occupied by modern industrial units.
Keen to take advantage of the new laws, Whittaker Design advised their client about how to submit an application under the new procedure – making them the first in the area, and one of the first nationwide, to use the new rights.
Alan Doherty, of Lees, said: “The location and ease of the conversion to apartments presented an ideal opportunity to test the Permitted Development Rights.”
Lee Hollinworth, from Springhead, added: “Our continued level of remaining up to date with legislation demonstrates our high level of competency and ensures our clients remain best informed on their options.”
The new rights allow for applications for conversions of office buildings to residential use, and are currently running for a trial period of three years.
Whittaker Design, a Chartered Architectural Technologist and interior design company, provides services to both domestic and commercial sectors, including leisure projects, pubs and bars, restaurants, golf clubs, and office or retail buildings, retail units and healthcare establishments.
Find out more on their website www.whittakerdesign.co.uk, ring 0161 620 1438 or email info@whittakerdesign.co.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
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