The five storey, Grade II listed building in Milton Street, will be the home of 14 new city centre apartments.
It was built between 1902 and 1903, and was designed by John Howitt, who also helped design a number of the city’s buildings, including King John’s Arcade in Bridlesmith Gate and the Heathcote Buildings in Goose Gate.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1890.
City councillors unanimously approved plans to convert the second, third and fourth floors to residential apartments at a meeting on Wednesday (May 20).
Cllr Graham Chapman (Lab) said the proposal acted as a “bit of a model” to bring back into use old, vacant properties in the city.
“My view is we should be welcoming anybody who wants to convert empty space above shops into residential,” he said.
“It increases footfall in the city centre, it increases demand in the city centre when demand is a bit more fragile than it was.”
The building went up for auction back in 2024, when it was valued at ÂŁ2.1 million.
It sits opposite John Lewis, and currently has a retail parade featuring KFC, Bistrot Pierre, and a newsagent on the ground floor.
Six apartments will be built on the second floor, six on third, and two on fourth floor, where the building is narrower.
Concerns were raised over possible noise problems for residents, with two nearby businesses, including a shisha lounge, stating any future complaints could impact their business.
Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis (Lab) said, while future residents must expect some noise as a result of buying or renting in the city centre, mitigations must be done where possible – as to avoid complaints to the council over anti-social behaviour.
“What worried me about this particular one, obviously it is an excellent scheme and it is good to have more housing units coming up, but I am worried about the noise aspect of things,” he said.
A council officer said the environmental health team has been involved, and a series of mitigations, including secondary glazing, mechanical venting, and noise attenuation, will feature in the scheme.
