COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

The 'Albion Buildings' are steeped in local history having been first constructed in the 1840s



A row of historic buildings in Nuneaton have been put on the market for £1m. The 'Albion Buildings' have been on the Attleborough street scene for more than a century.

First built in the 1840s, the original building on Attleborough Road was used as a ribbon factory and had a third storey, with elongated floor to ceiling windows. Meanwhile, its two lower floors were split into cottages to house the workers.

Fast forward to May 1968 and the roof and top floor were removed from the building so that a steam engine, which had previously been used to power the looms in the ribbon factory but never restored, could be removed.

Sporting goods supplier Phillips-Tuftex took on the site in the 1900s, using it as warehouse and office space, but relocated in 2020 leaving the historic buildings empty.

Last year, planning permission was granted for the empty warehouse to at the back to be demolished, and the unused buildings extended and transformed into a landmark development of 28 two-bedroomed flats and one three-bedroom house.

But now, almost a year on, the buildings have been put up for sale. Listed on Zoopla, it states: "The property comprises a long terrace of former cottages more recently in commercial use (principally for storage with associated offices) and with a more modern warehouse building at the rear, with the site now having the benefit of a residential planning consent.

"Specifically on 21st March 2025 detailed planning was granted for the demolition of the rear warehouse building and for the addition of two upper storeys to the front building along with its conversion to provide for 28 sizeable loft style apartments and one house with associated parking.

"Alternatively the site, which extends to some 0.532 acres in total provides potential for redevelopment for housing, for a commercial use (retail or business units) or potentially for assisted living, care or similar."

The land, which contains the Albion buildings, is described as 'prominent' marketed for £1m. More details can be found on the website here

Plans to turn 19th Century factory into houses



Fresh plans have been submitted to turn a former ribbon factory in Nuneaton into housing.

Philips Tuftex Ltd, which owns a section of the 19th Century Albion Buildings in Attleborough Road, wants to convert the site into 15 houses.

Previous plans to build 29 flats were approved in May, but developers said attempts to market them had been unsuccessful "due to the estimated build cost" of the project.

In its latest application, it said it hoped converting the site into houses, without the addition of an extra storey, would be "more financially viable". Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council is yet to make a decision on the application.

In attached documents, the developers said the existing buildings were no longer suitable for their current purpose and were "in need of extensive modernisation and refurbishment".

The plans also include the demolition and replacement of more recent extensions at the back of the site, which developers said were of "poor construction, requiring attention".

Under the plans, the site would be turned into 13 two-bedroom houses, one two-bedroom home and one one-bedroom property.

Planning documents said the proposals would "significantly improve the area by refurbishing a dilapidated building which is in much need of attention and which is currently to the detriment of the adjoining properties".

Originally, the building was made up of three-storey cottage workshops, the documents said, adding that the top floor was removed in the 1960s to allow the removal of a steam engine and drive gear.