A NEW application has been drawn up seeking permission to convert a prominent vacant office building in the town into apartments.

Previous proposals to turn the former HMRC office on College Street into 66 residential apartments had been approved by the council back in 2019.

However, the permission for this expired as the project was hit by delays and the building has remained empty since the former Tax Credits office at the Crown Buildings was closed in August 2018.

A new application has now been drawn up seeking prior approval for a change of use of the building to a slightly reduced number of 63 apartments.

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A letter by Russell Forde, of planning agents Smart Planning, in the application states that the original works were not carried out within the three-year time period “owing to multiple factors”.

These included “the time spent collating submissions for the conditions discharge applications, a change in ownership of the site, a change in the professional team, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors.

“Given the foregoing, it was practically impossible to proceed with the conversion works in the specified time period and the prior approval resultantly lapsed, leaving the site incomplete, effectively still an office building and with no way to lawfully proceed with the conversion”.

Meanwhile, a full planning application was also submitted in 2020 relating to external alterations and “these works are largely complete”.

What the new plans say

The letter adds: “The number of units has been reduced to 63 and many of these have been downgraded to one bedroom, one person units in order to satisfy the nationally described space standard (NDSS)”, adding “the original scheme was moderately substandard in this regard”.

Plans add: “The current proposal offers a vast improvement as all proposed residential units now provide sufficient gross internal areas, in line with the NDSS requirements”

The proposals, submitted by applicants H J Collection 2, are on a standard consultation to the public until Monday, September 2.

A decision on the application is expected to be made by September 25.