Residents have expressed mixed views over plans to convert a partly vacant building in Newark town centre into 24 new apartments.
The Castle Gate building is currently used for all manner of purposes, including business and leisure, but some parts remain vacant.
Plans from Mr T Hubbard, to convert the first, second and attic floors into 24 apartments, have now been approved by Newark and Sherwood District Council.
Ryan Cullen, who lives in Whitfield Street, welcomed the plans and said: “Chunks of the building have been empty for years and, having seen them struggle to fill it with businesses, the next best use is housing.
“Newark needs a good mix of housing, and whilst Fernwood and Middlebeck are providing out-of-town houses, small apartments in the middle of town are still needed.”
However some nearby residents objected to the plans.
“I would like to object on the grounds that this is not only an incredibly bad location for residential dwellings due to the proximity to a busy road, restaurant, live music venue and nightclub, but also Newark’s infrastructure is stretched to its limits already,” Andy McIntosh, of Beacon Hill Road, said.
“We, the people of Newark, do not want any more housing until we have enough doctors and NHS dentists.”
Similarly, Sean Barnsdale, of Walters Close, said there was no parking in the area and that it would add more strain on health services.
The proposal includes a number of changes to the elevations of the building, including the insertion of dormers. However, no extensions are proposed.
Council documents say a number of revisions have been made throughout the planning process, including to the design and layout, following advice from the conservation officer.
The council said in its decision: “The principle of converting the first, second and third floors to residential apartments is acceptable.
“The site-specific impacts have been assessed and on balance, overall, the proposal is acceptable.
“The development would provide 24 new dwellings that would contribute towards the council’s housing targets and would reuse a currently largely vacant building in the town centre.
“Although the proposal would not include any affordable dwellings due to viability reasons, and the mix does not reflect the overall mix usually required for a major residential scheme in this location, the benefits of the proposal are considered to outweigh these negatives.”
