A DEVELOPER has requested changes to a town centre scheme which is already “largely complete”.

Mr Pugh had begun working on the site at 1 Bank Close, which is located behind HSBC in the high street, in late 2018.

He had obtained planning permission to redevelop the former Wishes Café and create a new ground floor cafe with two flats above.

However, with the shell of the building now nearly complete, Mr Pugh has submitted a new application to vary the development.

The changed plans involve the building accommodating a single three-bedroom house instead of a café and two flats.

In a planning statement submitted as part of the application, the developer claimed there was “no justification for requiring provision of a further café”.

He said: “With regard to the café use, it has been recognised for some time that the number of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants in the town centre has increased considerably.

“In an article in the local paper in October 2021, it was reported that there were nineteen. The paper reported that the local plan advocated that no more than 30 per cent of premises should be non-retail uses but that this had already been exceeded.”

Mr Pugh adds the new proposal will “provide a high-quality new home in a highly sustainable location”, which introduces “passive and active overlooking” to Bank Close and the public car park.

The design statement gives details surrounding the new design.

It reads: “It will involve a number of elevational changes to the fenestration but the overall shell of the building will remain as constructed.

“The design and layout is acceptable and would not harm the visual amenities of the area.”

It adds the home would “preserve and enhance the established character and appearance of the Central Christchurch Conservation Area” and wouldn’t result in any “significant loss of amenity to adjacent properties”.

BCP Council is yet to make a decision on the planning application.