A RENOWNED nutritionist and naturopath has applied for planning guidance on whether their business represents a ‘change of use’ at their home.

Lucinda Miller is the founder of NatureDoc, an online naturopathic practice, which also has an online shop running from Maddington Manor, in Shrewton.

Planning firm RTPI has applied to Wiltshire Council, on behalf of Christopher Miller, to confirm the use of the premises for the business does not constitute a ‘material change of use’ and does not require planning permission.

The application also details that, due to running from the house for a “substantial period of time”, the use has become lawful regardless.

“The application property is a substantial, eight-bedroomed dwelling and the current occupants comprise a five-person family,” it said.

“This is a large, transient family unit, with the applicant’s daughter currently away attending university and the applicant’s son attending a boarding school throughout the year,” the application said.

“As such, not all of the eight bedrooms are utilised. However, the maximum occupation of the property could result in a considerable number of comings and goinf to and from the site, together with a number of parked vehicles on hardstanding to the front and side of the dwelling.

“Such movements include those from individuals employed for cleaning and gardening services at the site.”

The application said the virtual clinic and eCommerce business had run from the house since 2006, initially as a sole trader.

“At present, the business operates as a virtual clinic, acting, among other things, as an online hub for therapists who work independently and remotely,” it went on. “They rarely, if ever, visit the application property.

“A key part of the business is simply the management of the diaries of these remotely-working therapists.”

In 2017, the firm launched an online shop, with a “limited amount of stock”, typically food supplements, held on site.

“This stock is delivered several times per week in small vans by couriers such as DPD, UPS and DHL,” the application said.

“There are also collections and deliveries from Royal Mail, but this is activity which would have taken place regardless.”

The business use is “inconsequential to the main ise as a dwellinghouse and is simply incidental/ancillary to it”, it said.

“Moreover, the operation of this small-scale online business does not change the domestic character of the large property or th wider village setting,” the submission concluded.

The application will now be considered by council planners. For more details, log on to wiltshire.gov.uk and search for application reference PL/2024/02106.