COUNCIL Officials Support Arts Academy Proposal For Greenock Office Space

24 February, 2021 | Local, Planning

PLANNERS are recommending approval for an application to change a Greenock town centre office into a performing arts academy.

The proposal by Prominence Academy of Performing Arts involves the ground floor at 7 Union Street.

Councillors on Inverclyde Planning Board will consider the application next week. Eight members of the public have objected, raising concerns about issues including parking, traffic and noise.

The academy would operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm, with the potential for pop-up classes at weekends.

There would be music and dance lessons, drama and musical theatre classes, choir rehearsals, an evening drama and music academy and morning parent and baby classes.

The number of people attending would vary by class and activity, ranging from one-to-one tuition to classes of approximately 20 to 30.

A report by planners to be considered by councillors states: “The head of environmental and public protection offers no objections on the grounds of noise disturbance to residential properties.

“It is accepted that the proposed use will bring increased pedestrian and vehicular movements into the area. This must, however, be considered in the context of the location on a busy thoroughfare.

“Whilst residents choosing to reside here may benefit from the proximity to local shops and other services within the town centre, they cannot reasonably expect the same degree of quietude as would be experienced within a wholly residential area.

“The existing use as an office generates parking demand and there is no parking within the site. The head of service for roads and transportation recognises this in her consultation response and that, due to site location, it is not possible to provide any additional parking.

“There are controls on parking in place to discourage dangerous parking in this area and there are various public car parks nearby.”

The report concludes: “The proposal demonstrates the adaptability of the premises and ensures the reuse of existing buildings without detriment to adjacent uses. There are no material planning considerations which suggest that the proposal is not acceptable.”

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