A UNIT on the newly developed Verbena Court in Melksham could be home to a betting shop, following a recent application for change of use.
Full planning permission was granted in December 2014 for the construction of six retail units with 16 residential flats above and a Public House on the land north of Cranesbill Road, but a recent application seeks full permission to change the use of Unit 2, from a retail shop to a betting shop.
One of the conditions that came with the original planning permission was the restriction on Unit 1 to a Class A1 retail only, but not the other units. In the application, the agents Pegasus House said, “Guildhall Estates are marketing the remaining units and have a firm interest from a betting shop operator. Whilst no longer covered by the range of uses subject to the previous application, the proposed use is entirely appropriate for a local centre location.”
Under the amendments to the Use Classes Order made in April 2015 to the Town and Country Planning Order 2015, betting shops are now deemed to be a sui generis use, as apposed to the previous A2 use class, therefore full planning permission is required for the proposed use.
The target date for a decision is Monday 30th November. The application number is 15/09595/FUL
