Parish Council Supports Plans To Convert Former St Helens Garage Into Flats — But Raises Parking Concerns

St Helens Parish Council has given its support to plans to turn a former service station on Lower Green Road into four new flats — but has questioned where residents would park.

The proposal, submitted by Mr and Mrs Shaw, would see the existing building — which includes a garage, workshop and upstairs apartment — converted into three two-bedroom flats and one one-bedroom flat.

The applicants’ agent, MDJ Architectural Services, said the development would provide “much-needed housing” suitable for “young professionals, first-time buyers or renters, and downsizers or older residents.”

While broadly in favour, the parish council said it had concerns over parking arrangements, after Island Roads confirmed that the building’s frontage — currently used for customer parking — forms part of the public highway.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“There appears to be no off-street parking for any of the units.

"There is a nearby car park with a 24-hour limit — are there plans for this to become pay and display?

"There’s also a piece of land to the rear of the building which could potentially be used to provide off-road parking.”

MDJ Architectural Services said the proposal fits both national and local planning policies encouraging the reuse of previously developed land and the creation of housing within existing communities.

The firm added:

“This will bring a disused building back into productive use, providing much-needed housing while preserving local character and minimising impact on neighbours.”

The planning application — 25/01388/FUL — closed for public consultation on 24 October, with a decision expected from Isle of Wight Council on 14 November.