Appeal dismissed for change of use of house in Chapel Street, Thatcham to provide counselling service

An appeal has been dismissed for a proposal to turn a house in Thatcham into a one-bedroom flat and consulting rooms for a counselling service.

The proposal, by STATS (Hampshire) Limited, sought permission to create a new ground floor flat in the western part of the house at 55 Chapel Street, with six consulting rooms to accommodate one therapist and one client at a time.

The consulting rooms would operate from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

But West Berkshire Council refused the application, which was then put forward for appeal.

The appellant stated: “There is adequate room to turn within the site and parking is proposed to standard, so far as those standards exist for the nature of the uses proposed.”

It added there is no evidence to suggest that use of the site access would give rise to any adverse highway safety impacts.

But while the planning inspector agreed there is a “large and increasing demand” for counselling services within the area, it still aired doubts about the effect the proposed development would have on access, parking and the safety and convenience of those using the nearby highway.

They said: “The appeal proposal would support economic growth.

“In this way it would support the framework’s promotion of health and wellbeing.

“The site is accessible by alternative modes of transport and the proposal would make efficient use of land.

“However, the framework also requires development to provide safe and suitable access and minimise the scope for conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

“I have found that the access is unsuitable for the proposed development and would consequently increase the potential for conflict between traffic movements, which weighs heavily against the proposal and conflicts with development plan policies.”