Council turns down plans for 14 apartments at recently sold office building in Peterborough
Peterborough City Council has turned down a proposal to construct new apartments at an office building.
The prominent building at 35 Thorpe Road was sold earlier this year after going on the market with a £1.5 million price tag.
In September, MJS Construction applied to Peterborough City Council for prior approval to erect two additional floors above 35 Thorpe Road in order to create 14 self-contained apartments.
However, planning officers found that the proposed development did not comply with the limitations of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
This was due to the building being less than three storeys high and a significant part of the building being constructed prior to 1948.
The application submitted by MJS claimed that the proposed development offered a “well-considered upward extension” that respected the character of the existing building.
The company argued that, because the council did not benefit from a five-year housing land supply, the shortfall “increases the urgency for housing delivery”.
Despite this, the proposals received 40 objections from local residents and interested parties, with reasons including an increase in traffic, lack of parking spaces and a negative impact on the Peterborough skyline.
The office building was offered for sale after the previous tenant, legal firm Hunt & Coombs Solicitors, relocated to new premises.
Property experts said the sale of the two-storey building was boosted by its close proximity to the planned second entrance to the city’s railway station, which forms part of the plans for the £65 million Station Quarter development.