Plans to convert Peterborough offices into dozens of studio apartments submitted

The application from Mayflower Manhattan Limited is for 35 studio bedroom apartments and two single-bedroom apartments at Adam Court in Newark Road.

A previous application was rejected as the council said it wanted a noise assessment to be carried out. This has now been completed and is said to “demonstrate that the proposed should be considered as acceptable,” according to the new application.

Adam Court has six office buildings, three of which are being earmarked for the conversion. There would also be 46 parking spaces provided.

The planning application states: “The number of residents in the flats is likely to be much less than the number of office workers and, as importantly, visitors to the proposed flats are likely to be considerably less than to office premises.

“Flats in this location will prove attractive to residents working or seeking to work in Eastern Industry, an area that offers a multitude of employment opportunities. Many such persons will likely elect to walk or cycle to work.”

It adds: “The office terrace at Adam Court is at present largely unoccupied with only two short-term tenancies. There has been exceptionally poor demand for office space in the Eastern Industry over the past 15 years with long void periods.

“The proposal seeks to offer a significant and growing sector of the housing sector of the housing market in the UK - single person households - with high quality self-contained homes at attainable rents.

“By replacing office space in low demand with much needed residential accommodation that is close to a wide range of employment opportunities, we consider that the proposal supports the wider aspirations of the Local Plan to promote and develop the Peterborough economy.”