A hairdresser opening a salon in a back garden shed has been blocked by the local council from seeing more than four clients a day. Neighbours objected to the Yate hairdresser’s plans, complaining she already sees several clients a day in her kitchen, causing noise and disruption.
Planning officers at South Gloucestershire Council said the salon was more of an “advanced hobby”, rather than a business. They recommended councillors on the development management committee approve permission on Thursday, February 15.
The salon would be built inside a new shed, with two seats for customers, in a back garden on Turnpike Close in Yate. But local residents had raised concerns about having to hear noise such as music playing.
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Speaking to the committee, local councillor Chris Willmore said: “This proposed garden room is 28 square metres, it’s not a small building. It occupies the entire width of the rear garden — and these are not small properties — and a quarter of the depth of the rear garden.
“Residents and the town council are worried about the impact of business use, moving from a small scale operation in somebody’s kitchen to a purpose-built extension on that scale. Have you ever known a hairdresser’s not to have pop music playing, often quite loudly?”
Councillors on the committee voted to approve permission, but on the condition that the salon was limited to only four people getting their hair done each day. The aim of the limit on customers would be to reduce the disruption for neighbours living nearby.
Planning rules on opening a business in a home or back garden are not black and white. As long as the business is considered “ancillary”, meaning the main purpose of the property is still for living in, then permission from the council isn’t needed to change the use of the building.
