Flats plan in Worcester City Centre put forward

A plan to build 20 flats in the city centre has been put forward.

The empty grade II-listed former solicitor’s office in Foregate Street would be converted into apartments, under the plans put forward by Foregate Regeneration, with a new four-storey block housing seven flats built to the rear off Farrier Street.

The ground floor unit of the listed building in Foregate Street, which used to be home to offices but has been empty for almost two years, would remain in place.

The flats would vary in size from 18 square meters to 38 square metres.

A statement included with the application said: “Externally the building appears to be in good order, and no alterations to the external fabric of the building are proposed.

“The existing windows and doors will be retained and repaired where necessary.

“Internally, the layout has been designed around the existing structure with very little change to the main fabric of the building proposed. It has been identified that the majority of the internal walls are original and as such are proposed to be retained in order to maintain the original plan form.

“This has determined the layout of the proposed studios.

“It is recognised that the proposed studios are in some instances below the nationally prescribed space standards, however, the proposal is for the conversion of a grade II-listed building. These standards are not part of the adopted development plan.

“The harm that would be caused to the listed building by removing original walls to increase the size of the studios must be balanced against the level of amenity provided by the floor space of the apartments as proposed.

“It is considered that although below […] space standards, the studios are well designed and provide acceptable levels of amenity for future occupants.

The plans can be viewed via the planning section of Worcester City Council’s website.

The application number is 21/00470/FUL.