Planning approve HMV building division

Tuesday 22 October 2019

The company in charge of running the market buildings has received planning permission to sub-divide the former HMV premises into two retail units.

McAulay (Market Buildings) Ltd applied for permission to install glazed screen walls within the former HMV premises to create two general retail units.

Sonia Taylor from Bailiwick Estates, which manages the market buildings on behalf of the leaseholder, said the planning application has been sought "in order to give the lease holder flexibility in terms of letting the space", which has been vacant since the sudden closure of HMV in February. 

Ms Taylor said she was not able to provide any further detail at this time - however the planning approval sheds some light on how this cornerstone of the market complex might look in the future. 

"The applicant proposes the subdivision of this unit utilising structural glazed screens (similar to those already present within the complex) to create two smaller retail units either side of a central lobby area connecting through to the inner street," the Planning Department said.

Pictured: This year's Retro Festival was relocated to the vacant market building after facing cancellation due to adverse weather. Other than that, and a display of the late Roger Perrot's possessions ahead of an auction, the former flower market has been empty sinceHMV closed. 

"The glazed screens would be positioned discreetly behind the existing columns and with minimal fixings. Although the precise detail of each screen differs in terms of the arrangement/method of opening of doors, which would be somewhat at odds with the symmetry of the building, being positioned behind the columns minimises any adverse effect on the fabric and appearance of the protected building to an acceptable degree in accordance with the law and the aims of Policy GP5."

No development can be carried out until details of the electric sliding doors to be installed in the glazed screen to the inner street have been submitted and approved in writing by the Planning Authority.

Any other alterations, such as the creation of toilet facilities, would require separate planning permission.