Small retailers and businesses are taking advantage of simplified planning laws to convert commercial properties to suit their needs and open in towns and villages across East Yorkshire.
Rules over changing the use of small commercial properties were relaxed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in a bid to help local communities recover.
It means Class E commercial properties can now be used for retail, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafes, offices, health and medical uses, crèches and nurseries and indoor sports and leisure and recreation.
Significantly, the premises can also be changed between any of the approved uses without the need to seek permission.
Lauren Billany, who handles retail and leisure commercial property lettings and sales at Garness Jones, says this is helping new business owners in particular.
“We’re seeing a lot of confidence in the small retail and leisure sectors in towns and villages at present, and in what we would call secondary retail locations such as Newland Avenue and Holderness Road in Hull, where there are high numbers of units and high levels of footfall,” she said.
“Although we are fast approaching the end of the year we have completed lettings on five units and had offers made to buy another four in the last few weeks, each bringing new services and leisure offerings to local communities, which is really positive.”
Wide range of business uses for Class E premises
Deals recently overseen by the Garness team have included a former retail store in North Ferriby being changed into a new barber’s shop, a former coffee shop and retail unit in New Begin, Hornsea, being reopened by new owners as a gaming centre, and a new ‘nutrition club’ opening in Holderness Road, Hull.
“We need to make the most of these commercial units in communities and secondary retail locations, as more than ever people now want services back in their locality. There has been a real surge in demand for that since the pandemic,” added Garness Jones director Paul White.
“We have seen in the past how issues such as having to seek permission for change of use can be off-putting for people who just want to get on with setting up and running a new business. The less red tape, headaches and delay, the better for all, and we have helped lots of people to open a new business quickly because of this relaxation in classification.
“It has removed what was in the past a hurdle to finding suitable premises and opening a new business venture.”
Deals agreed to give new businesses flexibility and reassurance
Garness Jones places a focus on establishing tenancy deals on minimum three year leases for the security of landlords, but often also agrees a break clause after two years for tenants, to give a new business owner some flexibility.
“It can be daunting when setting out in business and opening a new venture so we work hard to structure deals to suit both the business owner and the property landlord,” added Lauren.
“By having that break clause option, with a six-month notice period, it places a focus on the business owner to reflect how things are going after 18 months.
“Ideally they will be doing well and will see out their three year lease and beyond, but if things are difficult, there’s a potential break ahead which has been agreed by all parties. It’s important to have that transparency and clarity for all.”
