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A Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council planning officer has recommended councillors approve the plan for Carly’s gift shop in the High Street on Wednesday.
The shop would open from 7am to 10pm with seating outside from 9am to 6pm. This would comprise three tables and eight chairs, to be removed each evening.
But the hours of outdoor use were scaled back than first proposed ‘following concerns regarding impact upon the conservation area and neighbour amenity’ the report said.
Carly’s would move to the former Katie Joyce jewellery shop at 1664 High Street.
The Knowle Society said the hours are “excessive and likely to cause a nuisance” and suggested 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 1pm on Sunday.
It said the outdoor seating would impact on the Knowle conservation area, which gives the village centre greater protection from development.
It said: “Concerns over lack of car parking provision for staff. Demand likely to be greater than existing.
“Car parking in Knowle in short supply, especially for long-term parking.
“Proposed business should be required to make provision for a reasonable number of staff parking spaces.”
The society said the unit is in a “continuous parade of seven shops” and “breaking this up with a coffee shop would have a significant impact”.
Ten letters of objection were also sent to the council.
One said: “There are enough coffee and food outlets in Knowle already; no reason
for an additional one, particularly in the conservation area.”
Another said: “Will not bring any new business to the village it will only take away from
existing outlets.”
One said: “Knowle is a village with a lot of local history and support; Costa will
change the dynamic of the village/alter the whole character of the village as well as saturate an already over provided market.”
Another warned it would “set a precedent for other brand outlets”. The Silhillian reported recently that the resident above the premises had objected.
But the planning officer said the scheme is “not expected to result in an undue detrimental impact upon the amenities of the occupiers of nearby dwellings, the streetscene, highways,
character or appearance of the conservation area/significance of the heritage assets or the function of Knowle centre”.
It said the unit is in “a busy local centre with an established night time economy”, was a “modest” size and of “limited significance”.
The firm needs planning permission to change the designated use of the shop from retail unit to mixed use.
Planned external fabric barriers are no longer part of the plan. No extractor fan would be fitted.
The report said: “Ultimately, market forces will determine need and competition.”
They said keeping the current use “cannot be insisted upon” as Knowle is not defined as
“primary retail frontage”. There is no policy setting a proportion of shop types.
They said a café “could potentially support a local centre”.
The council’s planning committee will be asked to make a decision at a meeting of the planning committee in Solihull town centre, next to Touchwood, at 6pm. The public are welcome to attend.
The Silhillian will bring you the decision on Thursday.
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