Plans to convert former Grantham job centre into flats given green light
Plans to convert the former Grantham job centre into flats have been given the go ahead.
An application to change St Peter’s House from offices into 12 flats was approved by South Kesteven District Council’s planning committee this afternoon (Thursday).
The three-storey building in St Peter’s Hill formerly housed the job centre and the Journal offices between 2013 and 2018.
It is currently vacant and a recent search has failed to find any interested occupants.
The proposal will see eight two-bedroom and four one-bedroom flats added inside, with the existing lift set to be retained.
The application is described as a “no-parking development”, which did cause councillors in the committee to have concerns over approving the plans.
Mike Sibthorpe spoke before the committee on behalf of the applicant M & M Willett Homes Ltd.
He said: “I think it’s fairly common practice for town centre residential proposals like this to not include car parking.
“It is generally accepted that by its location, it’s sustainable, people don’t rely on the use of a car because of where the property is.
“People will make their accommodation choices on whether there is parking or not. If there isn’t any parking, it won’t be suitable for them I wouldn’t have thought.”
He added that Welham Street car park was not “a significant distance away”, with his comments echoed by SKDC senior planning officer, Kevin Cartwright.
Councillor Tim Harrison (St Wulfram's, Ind) also pointed out that the Town and Country Club has a car park directly behind the site, with provision to rent car parking spaces.
Councillor Nick Robins (Castle, Con) agreed that if people did have a car, it was their choice to make before renting or purchasing the property.
He said: “If there is no parking space and they have a car, maybe they will look elsewhere.
“This type of development is exactly what the town centre needs. Town centres are changing to a more social feel and I think this really supports that shift in town centre living.”
Councillor Mark Whittington (Barrowby Gate, Con) said that discussions in the meeting had “negated” his concerns over the lack of parking provisions.
“I think it’s great,” added Coun Whittington. “We do need to be bringing these ex-office buildings back into use.”
One of the conditions of the application approved by councillors was recommended by Lincolnshire County Council highways.
The condition states that the development cannot be occupied before works are completed to improve the public highway by providing “an uncontrolled tactile crossing” on the junction at Avenue Road, Elmer Street South and St Peter’s Hill.
The reasoning behind this condition is “to ensure the provision of safe and adequate means of access to the permitted development”.
Another condition of approval is a financial contribution from the developer of £7,480 to the NHS to support the operation of local services.
