Residential Change of Use in Romford Town Centre
Planning permission from the London Borough of Havering for the change of use of a first-floor hair salon to a two-bedroom apartment in Romford Town Centre conservation area, adjacent to a listed building.
PLANNING APPROVALSHAVERINGLONDON
Andrew Ransome
7/5/20262 min read
In 2020, I secured planning permission from the London Borough of Havering for the change of use of a first-floor hair salon to a single two-bedroom apartment in Romford Town Centre.
The site fell within a conservation area and was directly adjacent to a listed building, which made prior approval routes unavailable.
The case was resolved through a full planning application demonstrating town centre residential sustainability, and by creating a rooftop garden to meet private amenity space standards.
Residential Change of Use in Romford, Havering
I secured planning permission from from the London Borough of Havering for the change of use of a first-floor hair salon to a single two-bedroom apartment in Romford Town Centre.
The site occupies a prominent town centre location, falls within a designated conservation area, and is directly adjacent to a listed building.
These characteristics meant that the prior approval route — which would have been simpler and quicker — was not available. A full planning application was required.
The loss of retail or commercial floorspace is a matter that local planning authorities frequently resist, particularly in town centre locations where vitality and viability are policy concerns.
The planning case addressed this directly by demonstrating that the Council's own adopted policies supported residential living in the town centre — acknowledging that a mix of uses, including residential, contributes to the vitality and activity of a centre rather than undermining it.
The introduction of a residential dwelling at first-floor level was argued to add to the activity of the frontage and increase the evening and weekend presence in the area.
Meeting the Council's internal space standards and private amenity space requirements required a creative design solution.
The existing first-floor layout was reconfigured to achieve compliant room sizes, and a large rooftop garden was created to provide private amenity space for the new apartment.
The London Borough of Havering was satisfied that the proposal complied with all relevant policies and granted planning permission.
Planning Application Advice
If you have a town centre property and want to explore its residential conversion potential — I can advise on the best application route and manage the process. Contact me to discuss your project.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
Planning Successes in London
Planning Application Information
Get in touch for planning advice: Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
© 2026. All rights reserved.