A new application to determine whether part of an old Leek mill can be converted into rehearsal rooms for local musicians without the need for planning permission has again been refused by the district council.

Leek Nub News reported previously how a change of use prior approval notification was submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council by a Mr David Scragg from the Law Rooms Music Centre, regarding part of Newspaper House on Brook Street in Leek.

The aim is to convert the first floor of the building, which was originally constructed as a mill, into rehearsal spaces for local musicians.

However, the district council said that a full planning application must first be submitted to have any chance of doing so.

A new application has since been submitted, again asking if the mill could be converted without planning permission.

However, this has again been refused by the district council, who have reiterated that a full planning application is required.

A report by the council's planning officers referenced the previous application, stating: "The recent Prior Approval application for the change of use of the building earlier this year was refused as the proposed use did not fall under Class T of Part 3 (which was what was applied for) as this only applies to changes of use to state schools or nurseries which music rehearsal rooms obviously do not fall under.

"If the proposal under this new application did meet the tests in Class J(1), it would still not be possible to determine the impacts of the change of use (e.g. noise, highway impacts etc.) as no information has been given specifically about the proposal, hence the objections from Environmental Health and the local highways authority."

It concluded: "The proposal cannot be determined via a Notification of Prior Approval under Class J as it does not meets the tests in J(1). Based on the level of information submitted, the change of use cannot be undertaken under permitted development (i.e. without planning permission) and a full planning application is required to be submitted instead."