The council said the barbershop had already added to parking problems #
A council has threatened enforcement action after a barbershop opened in Wolverhampton without planning permission.
City of Wolverhampton Council has rejected plans to regularise planning permission for barbershop Fresh Look in Dudley Road, Blakenhall.
The barbershop opened last year without planning permission from the local authority.
The planning application, submitted six months ago, asked for permission to remove a condition which meant the building, which is sandwiched between two houses, could only be used as a lettings agent.
The condition also restricted the building’s closing times to 7pm during the week and 5pm at the weekend.
The council said if the barbershop did not close and equipment removed, it would “take formal planning enforcement action in order to protect the interests of the amenity of the area.”
Rejecting the application, the council said removing the decree would result in more noise, comings and goings and longer hours that would “cause longer periods of disturbance.”
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“Furthermore, the use of a barbershop would generate a significant increase in vehicle trips when compared to the approved use for property lettings, and a significant increase in car parking demand at a location that is already very heavily subscribed with on-street parking,” the council added.
“Therefore, the proposal has an adverse impact on neighbouring amenities, the character of the area and highway safety in comparison to a lettings agent which is the permitted use for this site.”
The council’s officers had recommended the application was refused when the planning committee met earlier this month.
A report said lifting the restriction would mean the building could be used for a “wide array of occupiers such as a cafe or restaurant, day nursery or light industrial use.”
“In comparison, a lettings agent is typically a quieter office use and associated noise, and disturbance, would be minimal due to the nature of the business.”
The council’s planners said Dudley Road experienced “high volumes of traffic” and the “very little” on-street parking that was available was already “heavily subscribed.”
“There are already street parking issues along the public highway, in which the barbershop has increased the number of vehicles being parked outside neighbouring properties due to the current use,” the council said.
“The use of the barbershop, with neighbouring residential properties either side, attracts a significant amount of customers throughout the day for longer periods of hours in comparison to the approved lettings agents which is detrimental and has an adverse impact on the daily life of the adjoining residential properties where there is already limited on-street parking and adding to congestion.”