PLANS to demolish part of Petersfield Jobcentre and turn the remainder of the three-storey building into shops and flats have been approved.
East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) planning committee agreed the proposal last Thursday at a meeting in Penns Place council chamber.
Planning officer Nicky Powis said the original plans for the building in Chapel Street had been amended to take into account neighbours’ objections.
She said: “Most of the objections were about two dwellings proposed for the garden area belonging to the Jobcentre, but they have now been taken out of the plans.
“So it is now a proposal for three ground floor shops with six flats above them.”
Webber Holdings owns the building alongside the path from the Swan Street car park on to Chapel Street past The Old Drum pub.
For more than 20 years, it has been home to the Jobcentre; it will now shut and staff and services will transfer to Havant Jobcentre.
Agent for Webber Holdings John Butcher said: “The path is an important route into the town, and this will improve it.”
Now the building’s single-storey rear extension will be demolished, and the ground floor converted into shops, with one opening onto the walkway.
Mr Butcher added: “The unsightly one-storey industrial style unit will go, and the path will become a very attractive route into the town.” The other two shops will open on to Chapel Street, and there will be three one-bedroom flats on each of the two floors above them.
Planning committee deputy chairman Cllr Bob Ayre said: “The Hoggs Lane walkway on the other side of Chapel Street has been similarly revamped, and is a very attractive route into town, and this will have the same effect I believe.”
One concern was that with a mews-style row of houses and two other houses nearby, the area was becoming over-populated.
EHDC deputy leader and planning committee member Cllr Ferris Cowper commented: “I can’t see any problems with this, it is a typical cheek by jowl town centre development, and, if people don’t like it, they won’t live there.”