Companies including a funeral service, hair salon and Pilates studio have asked council planners to allow the use of units on Mandale Park.
The businesses have applied to Stockton Council for retrospective planning permission to change the use of commercial units near Urlay Nook Road, Eaglescliffe. They have asked for consent covering current uses – a Pilates studio for Flex Flow Studio, hair salon for Olivia’s Hair and Extension Specialists, beauty salon for Paleschi and a funeral directors’ for David Knowles Funeral Service.
They are all the first tenants since construction of the units was finished, say a series of planning applications. They are each described as a “small-scale facility” serving a localised area, said to be unlikely to harm other shopping centres.
David Marjoram, principal planner from agent ELG Planning, said in letters to the council there would be “no negative amenity implications for future residents or any neighbours”. The letters say transport impacts would not be severe, with funeral-related vehicles not occupying spaces “any longer than necessary”, and the other three businesses being appointment-only.
He said there are no available units in nearby centres on Orchard Parade or Sunningdale Drive, Eaglescliffe. In Yarm, units for rent would not meet the businesses’ requirements as they were too small, while units for sale in the town attracted “offers in excess of £1,000,000… which is simply not viable for the operators” for a listed building in an “incredibly busy location” with parking issues.
For the funeral directors’, a Yarm site had no on-site parking: “The ability to bring the deceased to the funeral directors’, and load the hearse and form the cortege, all in a dignified manner, is critical. The one unit that does have some on-site parking is far too small at 42sqm. Two further properties identified are both restaurants for sale, which are not suitable.”
So, say the applications, there are no suitable and available alternative sites nearby. The letters conclude: “The proposed change of use (retrospective) represents an entirely appropriate form of development that would accord with all of the relevant development plan policies. As such, it should be supported through the granting planning permission without delay.”
Neighbours have been notified of the plans and consultation for each plan expires on January 9.
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