Council planners have refused an application for a house at Warwick Gates from an upholstery business.

Warwick District Council has thrown out an application for a 'certificate of lawfulness' at the home on Touchstone Road which would have recognised its joint use as a dwelling and as the base for 'MiCala Upholstery'.

Plans state the business has run there since 2017, but it now looks set to have to apply for full planning permission to change the use of the building.

"Our business is online and mobile upholstery repairs," the application explained. 

"Customer contact is by email or phone. 

"Samples are ordered online and delivered directly from suppliers to the customer by post. Fabric sales and other materials are delivered directly to customers. 

"Measuring up / stripping down / reassembly of work carried out at customers' property. 

"We are not running a shop where customers can just turn up and buy things. 

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"We use a sewing machine in one of our bedrooms, cutting out fabric in the dining room and sometimes furniture assembly in the garage."

Nine objections were received from neighbours who raised concerns about noise and the number of extra vehicles coming to Touchstone Road for deliveries and customer collections.

The applicant said deliveries were only a "couple a month" and customers only come by appointment, with there being ample parking nearby.

Four locals wrote in support of the plans saying they are not disturbed by the business.

However, a council report found the use of the house for the business went beyond what a "certificate of lawfulness" usually covers.

"The applicant has confirmed a list of the equipment that is used on a regular basis when carrying out upholstery works, with it noted that this includes the use of industrial grade equipment, specifically a sewing machine and over-locker," it said. 

"Officers consider that the use of this specialist equipment, for the purpose of running an established commercial business, would not be considered as being incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse. 

"Whilst it is noted that individuals may have similar equipment within their dwelling, alongside other examples of specialist equipment associated with alternative individual hobbies, in this case, the use of this specific equipment is primarily for the purpose of running a commercial business, not just as a hobby."

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It continued: "When considering all of the above, the use of the application property as a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) and for the purposes of an upholstery business is not considered to be lawful, with the existing use of the property considered to be a mixed-use as a dwellinghouse and upholstery business, with this being a material change of use, therefore comprising development."

Click here to see the planning application in full.