Eastwood car sales pitch has operated without planning consent

An Eastwood car sales business has applied for planning permission after Rotherham Council started enforcement action.

The application seeks to “regularise” the use of a site at Shaw Lane, on the Eastwood Industrial Estate, which has been used for vehicle sales, without having the correct permission in place.

The council’s planning enforcement team became involved and a planning application now being considered by the council is aimed at answering the issues they raised.

That covers a wide range of factors, including parking arrangements, circulation of traffic, access, noise and the visual impact of the business.

The site occupies a rectangular site, close to Doncaster Road and Fitzwilliam Road, which has previously been used for commercial purposes.

Under the plans, the site would have “28 clearly defined display spaces and six visitor spaces”.

An on-site cabin would be used as a sales office and for staff welfare, rather than for purposes like vehicle repairs.

Application papers state: “The proposal is an employment-generating commercial use operating from previously developed land within an established employment estate.

“It does not introduce housing or another sensitive use which could constrain neighbouring industrial operations.

“Instead, it maintains the land in productive economic use and supports jobs connected with vehicle acquisition, preparation, administration and sales.

“The locality already contains automotive, parts, metalworking, storage and other trade-based activities.

“The proposal’s vehicle based character, secured open yard ad modes sales cabin sit comfortably within that context.”

A decision on the application will be made later.