GARAGE STYLED INTO HAIRDRESSING SALON
Planners say ‘unlikely to cause disturbance to neighbours’
THE garage of a house is getting a stylish makeover – to transform it into a hair salon.
Planning permission was granted in 2018 for the detached triple garage at the back of the property in Birkholme Drive, Meir Heath.
Now plans to change its use have also been approved by Stafford Borough Council.
The proposed opening hours for the new salon will be from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 3.30pm on Saturdays.
The business will be closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
Five car parking spaces are set to be provided at the front of the salon, with a further single space in the rear garden.
A planning officers’ report said: “Taking account of the fact that the business would run on an appointment-only basis, the additional site activity, including any noise from cars arriving or leaving, would be limited and phased throughout the day rather than peaking at any time.
“A hair salon operating for the hours suggested is considered unlikely to result in significant disturbance to neighbours. Operating hours should be limited by condition.”
A planning statement submitted to the council said the salon would be run by the applicant and his partner, who both live at the property.
It added: “They will employ two part-time members of staff to undertake hair washing, cleaning and making refreshments.
“It is nevertheless important to note that only one of those part-time members of staff will be present on site at any time as they will operate on a rota basis.
“The salon will operate by appointment-only, with the applicant and his partner working on a one-to-one basis with customers.”
Each appointment will last for 30 minutes, and there is then a 15-minute period where cleaning takes place.
Two neighbours contacted the council about the proposals.
One had no objection, but the other raised concerns about car parking and potential nuisance from headlights shining into neighbours’ windows.
They said: “I respectfully request that the applicant gives due consideration to providing some form of appropriate screening e.g. hedgerow, behind the front boundary wall, of adequate height and life longevity, to mitigate the impact of light intrusion.”