Apartments plan for former bank in Nuneaton town centre...

[dutchman]

It is a prominent building



More apartments could be created within a former bank building in Nuneaton town centre.

There are already places to live on the second and third floors in the former bank at 25 Market Place, directly behind the fountain, and now there could be more.

A planning application has been submitted for the ground floor and first floor of the building, which is next to the clock tower and known as 'Fountain House' to be transformed into three, one bedroom apartments.

Santander Bank used to be based on the ground floor of the building but it has stood empty since 2014 the national name left.

Attempts have been made to get a new tenant in, according to the application, which says: 'despite being marketed by commercial agents for its extant use class, and subsequently post adoption of the most recent Use Classes Order, in relation to the wider variety of Class E uses, without any commercial interest.'

The building is within a conversation area, which preserves its features, but the application states that this limits what it can be used for.

The second and third floors of the property were converted to two, one bedroom apartments and four studio apartments after planning permission was given in May 2019.

"The change of use in this regard was granted on the basis that it was considered that a residential use can be accommodated within the existing building without the need to change any external aesthetic features associated with the property, that remain important in their contribution to the conservation area, but nonetheless provides a viable long term use for the accommodation itself."

Under the plans, there would be two, one bedroom apartments on the ground floor of the property and a one bedroom apartment to the rear upper of the first floor of the property, with access to a bathroom located on the ground floor and for which a 10sqm terrace is also provided within an existing roof space.

"It is considered by the applicant that the continued and long term vacancy of thw ground floor of the unit provides detriment to the vibrancy of the building's contribution towards the conservation area and due to its continued lack of viability with regard its commercial use, the change of use to a residential unit will contribute towards the conservation area in a manner that the ground floor of the building has not done for a considerable period of time," the application says.

The planning team at the Town Hall is now looking at the proposal.

A final decision will be made on whether to give it planning permission by the target date of August 9.