Plan to convert "substandard” offices into town flat

Wednesday 06 December 2023

Plans have been put forward to convert office and storage space above a town lighting shop that has fallen into "disrepair" into a one-bedroom apartment.

The existing three-story building on Beresford Street in town currently houses Emess Lighting on the ground floor, while the first floor currently has two offices and a rear storeroom.

The second floor contains storage for the retail unit, as well as a part of a maisonette residential unit which also occupies the third floor.

NOVA-CAD architects – acting on behalf of applicant Sebastien Paraskevas – have put forward a planning application to transform the vacant first-floor office and storage space into a one-bedroom residential unit. 

Pictured: The property is based on Beresford Street.

The application notes that the Beresford Street building is a Grade 3 listed 19th century building which retains some original features internally and externally, and that that the conversion would have minimal impact on these.

In documents submitted as part of the application, the office space is described as "substandard" and "in a poor state of disrepair".

NOVA-CAD explained that the offices have been offered on the open market for let, with no interest.

“Given the extent of high-quality office space on the market in recent years, ageing premises of poor quality such as these are not considered a desirable offering to the marketplace," they said.

The proposed one-bedroom flat offers “no parking provisions” due to the “town centre location”. 

“It is however within close proximity of multi-storey car parks and bicycle parking bays," the application said.

"The property is also within walking distance of the Weighbridge bus station."

The planning application, which has been graded 'Major', will be decided at a later date.