Permitted change of use – commercial and change of use projects

Last week we went to visit a scheme we completed two years ago, a new 450 seat church in Walton on Thames. The building, previously a car dealership, also features a large function space with kitchen; offices and pastor’s lounge; sound booth and rehearsal space; and of course the main auditorium with full audiovisual capability. The building has a large IT infrastructure and intricate lighting design that we developed with Powercor of Weybridge. It was great to revisit the scheme and see it in use. While we specialise in residential architecture, we also have experience in both mixed-use and refurbishment/change of use projects too. We are often contacted by developers or businesses looking to find another use for an existing building. With recent planning law changes and new build sites at a premium, working with an architect to develop a unique design for an existing building is a great way to achieve new commercial spaces. Within our practice, we have lots of experience in this sector.