Andrew Granger & Co helps downsizing listed property owner make the most of development opportunity

Our Planning team have helped a property owner to convert a listed building in a Leicestershire town centre that was falling into disrepair

Full planning permission and listed building consent were granted in March 2015 for the development in Station Road, Lutterworth, which will see a Grade II Listed Building converted into two homes and four three-bed houses built in the garden. In addition, another new home will be created by a barn conversion while a new building will house a shop, a flat above and a townhouse at the rear, and an outbuilding will be converted into a garage.

Our Planning & Development team worked with architects, consultants and Harborough District Council on the project throughout 2014 to obtain planning consent, which would preserve the character of the listed building and deliver new dwellings in a sustainable location.

Stephen Mair, a Planner at our Market Harborough office, said: “The original plan was to convert the main house into two dwellings and build a commercial unit with a new house for the owner, but having visited the site we immediately saw that the property had significantly more potential.”

We worked with Clipston-based architect Michael Lavender to draw up plans and submit them to the Council. We then held discussions with the Council and other consultees to resolve a number of queries. This included consulting English Heritage and the Harborough District Conservation Officer because of the property’s listed status and the site’s situation on the limits of the town’s Conservation Area.

Our team also hired an archaeological firm to carry out trial trenching and eliminate the possibility of the site being of archaeological interest.

After resolving that the gross floor area of the development was under the recently revised threshold for affordable housing, Harborough District Council gave the project the green light.

The Lutterworth project is one of a series where we have recently secured planning permission for residential, commercial and rural developments.

If you have a project that you think might benefit from our Planning expertise, why not get in touch with our Market Harborough team on 01858 439090 or email planning@andrewgranger.co.uk