The Laurel Beauty Room Colchester has garage plan rejected

The Laurel Beauty Room operates out of the owner’s house in Laurel Walk, Colchester, but applied to Colchester Council to change the use of its garage.

A planning statement details how there became a “need for extra space and practicality” to benefit the business while also creating office space.

But the proposal meant the beautician’s property would lose two off-street parking spaces.

Treatment - The Laurel Beauty Room is based in Laurel Walk, Colchester (Image: Google)

Colchester Council’s planning officers said this would “displace the existing resident’s vehicles” and “encourage” customers to park on the road.

They rejected the plan amid fears it would create a “negative impact on the public realm and local highway network”.

It came despite The Laurel Beauty Room stating customers have parking spaces available at the rear of the property.

The garage is not used for parking as it stands and instead functions as storage space for the residents.

They told the council: “Treatment usually takes place within the home but the need for extra space and practicality means the ideal space to be used for the home-based office and treatment room is to convert the garage.”