Residential to business use permission

[isthesolution]

I wonder if anyone has applied for planning permission for their home to be used as a business?

We've sold our house to a company who will run it as a respite home. I didn't even realise they could apply for planning permission before owning it but apparently they can. The communication from the seller hasn't been ideal and having accepted the offer over 2 months ago we (and our solicitor) thought we were good to set a date and proceed. Turns out they've just submitted a planning application.

Not only do I think this is going to take ages but also I'm concerned they won't get the permission. Our house is on a small narrow lane and when we'd queried planning permission to build in the garden we were told the lane would stop this as it was too narrow. Will a change of use application be the same? Will they consider the road?

I'm not quite sure what a respite home is or how it operates.
The Council will consider whether the use is acceptable in a residential area (assuming there are other houses on your road), the impact on neighbouring properties in terms of noise, disturbance, privacy etc, parking and highway safety.
If the property needs extending to accommodate the new use, then the usual factors will be considered for that as well.

Yes they will definitely consider the road. This could drag on for ages though. Don't waste time and money trying to move forward until they have the permission. Average time on that is about 3 months atm.

I'd say 3 months is the absolute minimum unless it's a straight refusal!

Thanks everyone.

I've contacted the planning dept to see if they have received the application, to ask of an idea of the timescale.

Do you think it's reasonable to put the house back on the market in the mean time?

What needs clarifying is whether their offer is subject to obtaining planning permission your estate agent should have done this on day 1 so they need to get into it immediately. If the offer is subject to planning you need to decide if you are happy to wait or whether you want to get straight back on the market.

For a respite home in particular the council will consider how easily an ambulance could access the property, how close it could get and how easily it could turn around to leave swiftly if needed. You may also potentially get objections from neighbours. What’s the comment deadline on the planning application?

Thanks everyone.

The estate agent had no idea they would be applying for planning permission. This was not mentioned at any time until we proposed a moving date (10 weeks after week we accepted their offer with only a few minor queries left with the solicitor)

The solicitor and estate agent are trying to get answers. I'm really concerned that it's going to take ages and possibly be rejected and then they'll pull out. Equally we don't want to lose the buyer.