PLANS to convert a vacant historic building in Cirencester into nine apartments and to construct five new town houses in its courtyard have been put forward.
Residents have been encouraged to give feedback on a proposal to transform a large Grade II listed building in Cirencester's town centre, 5 Dyer Street, into residential accommodation.
The historic building comprises of three floors plus a basement.
It has been occupied by a range of commercial uses over the years, including a bank, the Rural District Council and more recently the Friendly and Mutual Society.
Dyer Street Properties, a private company that buys and sells real estate, purchased the property more than four years ago and had an office there for a period in 2021, but it has since been empty.
Some of the building's original internal features remain such as the fire surrounds, window shutters and architraves, but are in need of repair.
Keen to breathe life back into the building, Dyer Street Properties has put forward plans to convert this large commercial office space into seven two-bed apartments and two one-bed apartments.
It is also keen to construct five new town houses - three two-bed houses and two three-bed houses - in the rear courtyard.
Plans for private car parking (with EV charging facilities), cycle storage and tree planting in the courtyard have also been proposed.
A spokesperson for Dyer Street Properties said: "The existing building is not in a suitable condition that would be attractive to potential commercial occupiers and there is little demand for large offices spaces such as this within the town centre.
"If a suitable alternative use cannot be secured, the structure and fabric of the building will deteriorate over time.
"Converting the building into apartments will secure a viable and long-term future for this heritage asset.
"Preparing proposals to facilitate the change of use of any existing building always requires careful thought and creativity.
"We are seeking to minimise the number of physical interventions needed to bring about the proposed conversion to avoid unnecessary loss of historic building fabric.
"In addition, we aim to retain, repair and renovate those elements and features that are considered to contribute towards the building’s overall significance as a heritage asset."
Residents have been invited give feedback on this proposal via a questionnaire on shorturl.at/bitMN before plans are officially submitted to Cotswold District Council.
Alternatively, residents can email questions to consult@plan-a-planning.co.uk
Feedback must be submitted before Wednesday, April 3.
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