Future of Northampton beauty salon in jeopardy over planning dispute follow move into new home on Drapery

A Northampton beauty salon that moved into a new home on the Drapery this month could lose everything they've worked for if they cannot settle a dispute with the borough council.

After 10 years operating on the downstairs floor of Market Walk, Zone Beauty Studio has relocated to the former Intersport DW Sports Store, which itself has been empty since 2017.

However, the borough council has had to rule the salon's fresh start "unauthorised" because of a planning dispute that could jeopardize the nail bar's future if an agreement can't be reached.

Owner Atif Kiran told the Chronicle & Echo: "It's caused some sleepless nights.

"The building has been empty for nearly four years and we finally decided to take a bet and move in. It's a nice location.

"But now we're in a very difficult situation. We're worried if we get refused we will have to close and lose our investment."

The conflict is over how Atif and his landlords applied to renovate the former DW Sports into a 'retail unit', which is treated in planning applications as a 'Class A' use.

But beauty salons fall under another category known as 'sui generis' - which means, in effect, under planning law Atif and his team have not done what they said they were going to do.

But in addition to this, the Drapery premises is a listed building - which means if any of the work Atif has done to the building cannot be undone it could be against the law.

Atif told the Chron he is confident none of the work to open the salon has affected the building.

The borough council has been contacted for a comment.

Atif said: "We understand what they are saying but we are sure we have not made any changes to the building.

"We don't want to lose everything we're worked for after Covid and leaving Market Walk.

"We hope we can resolve this."

The application to open the salon also aims to create 14 apartments on the upper floors.