The Ground Floor Retail Impact Assessment
Under Paragraph MA.2(2)(f) of the GPDO, where the development involves the change of use of the whole or part of the ground floor of a building located within a Conservation Area, prior approval is required regarding:
'The impact of that development on the character or sustainability of that conservation area.'
If the commercial building is located on a primary retail frontage in an active shopping parade, the council will frequently refuse prior approval on the grounds that converting the ground floor into residential flats creates a dead retail frontage and erodes the historic vitality of the Conservation Area.
In contrast, upper floors (first floor and above) are NOT subject to this retail impact test and can be converted without character objections.