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V25-359 : UNAUTHORISED BUSINESS ACTIVITY AT 6 CHURCH ROAD, LOWESTOFT

A complaint had been received in respect of a business activity at 6 Church Road, Lowestoft. The Council's Enforcement Officer and an Environmental Health Officer had visited the site. One person, who lived at the property, made fitted covers to order for "Snugfit Covers" of Canvey Island. The materials and orders were brought to the property in a transit van 2/3 times a month by the owner of the business. The occupier had been making the covers for the past seven years using two commercial sewing machines situated in the kitchen of the house. There had been no previous complaints.

The Waveney Local Plan recognised that people often worked from a room in their own home. Planning permission was not required when the main use of the property remained as a residential dwelling and there was no change in the overall character of the property. Permission was necessary if other people were employed at the property or if the main use of the property was no longer that of a dwelling house. In some cases the expansion or intensification of small business uses, not originally requiring planning permission, may be sufficient to warrant planning permission becoming necessary.

Given that this was clearly a small scale operation that had existed for the past seven years without complaint, it was considered that the use was de minimis and that planning permission was not required.

RESOLVED

That no action be taken in respect of a complaint of unauthorised business activity at 6 Church Road, Lowestoft.

Volume 25 Minute 359

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