Former Cleadon post office to become 'financial and professional services unit', creating up to six jobs

Proposals to convert a house into offices have been given the go-ahead.
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The site at 14 Front Street in Cleadon Village was formerly a post office before being converted into a residential property following a council ruling in 2009.

Now new plans have been approved by South Tyneside Council for a ‘financial and professional services unit’ at the site which is expected to create up to six full-time equivalent jobs.

The applicant listed in planning documents is Mr Gavin Spencer, of Cleadon Tower.

The former Cleadon Village post office was originally converted into a residential property, but is now set to become a business baseThe former Cleadon Village post office was originally converted into a residential property, but is now set to become a business base
The former Cleadon Village post office was originally converted into a residential property, but is now set to become a business base
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During consultation, one comment was received from a neighbour raising concerns about parking availability for staff and customers.

However, planners stated that parking would need to be accommodated on-street or elsewhere in the area.

The council’s planning authority approved the application on Friday, September 18.

The decision was informed by a similar application for a dental surgery in the area, which was refused by planners over parking issues but approved by a Government-appointed planning inspector at appeal.

A decision report reads: “The conclusion of the inspector, in allowing the appeal, was that there was no substantive evidence to show that there is no capacity to absorb the potential increase in demand for car parking and that the proposed development would only lead to a very limited increase in demand for car parking, which would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety.

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“Following this approach, it is not considered that there is any evidence that this much smaller proposal for a change of use would significantly increase demand for parking or have an adverse impact upon highway safety.”

No physical changes are proposed to 14 Front Street, which sits within the Cleadon Conservation Area.

Planners added that the new development would have a “negligible effect” in terms of noise and disturbance to neighbours.

The decision report goes on to say: “This would be an office-based use with a small number of staff and a limited number of comings and goings from visitors and deliveries.

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“An A2 use would ordinarily operate during normal daytime working hours and the application form indicates that the proposal would be to operate on the basis of 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday.

“This is likely to be comparable with the previous post office use.”

Under planning conditions, the office plans must be brought forward within the next three years.

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