Housing association Sovereign House applies for certificate of lawful use for 20 Barton flats initially used for sheltered housing

A HOUSING association which owns a block of 20 flats in Barton has applied to New Forest District Council for retrospective permission over the site.

The Aldbury Court properties at 19-21 Grove Road were built after planning permission was granted by NFDC in 1989 for sheltered accommodation housing and communal facilities.

The current owner, Sovereign House, claims the site was developed in the 1990s and has since been occupied as class C3 use, which relates to houses, flats and apartments for dwelling use.

In an application requesting a certificate of lawful use for the building, the applicant states: "The development is a private development and does not comprise any communal facilities to support sheltered living.

"The council tax records for the property indicate that council tax has been paid for 20 properties since 1993.

"Furthermore, a search of the property's planning history reveals that planning permission has not been sought for any alternative uses."

A public consultation runs until 31st March after which time New Forest District Council will make its decision.

So far there have been no representations received either for or against the application.