The Site
The Site is located on the southern side of the High Street and extends to Herschel Street to the south.
The Site has an extant consent for a mixed-use development consisting of residential and Class E use. To the north, is the pedestrianised High Street, with Queensmere Observatory shopping centre on the opposite side of the street.
To the south is Herschel Street, which is currently a service road, with no parking.
To the south side of Herschel Street are mainly residential with rows of terrace housing running perpendicular to the road leading to an area know locally at Herschel Village.
The buildings to the east are made up of commercial / retail uses toward the High Street and residential uses toward Herschel Street. There is a vehicle access for services and car parking, between the buildings. To the west is commercial / retail buildings towards the High Street and services and car parking to the rear.
Planning History
The town centre site currently benefits from an existing planning permission, which local residents may be familiar with.
The recent planning history regarding the site is outlined below. Although permission for these applications was granted, for a range of reasons, previous site owners have opted not to progress with the plans.
January 2019
Planning consent granted for:
- 78 new apartments across 3 new buildings with heights of 4,5 and 11 storeys
- New flexible retail space at ground level on the High Street
- New flexible commercial space at the first floor
March 2022
Amendments to the January 2019 permission were granted for the addition of 2 storeys to one tower taking it to 12 storeys, and the addition of 8 x1 bedroom homes. The amendments also removed the planned flexible office/gym space, in favor of further new apartments.
November 2023
A further necessary amendment to add a second stair to the stair core in the tallest building was also approved.
May 2025
The permission we are seeking and are consulting on currently is new and separate to those detailed above.