Approval has been given for the change of use of office units and one retail unit in Stevenage town centre to residential use, to pave the way for 71 new flats.
The plan is to create new flats above the shops at 58-90 Queensway and Forum Chambers, with the development spanning the stretch of units between the two main entrances to the Westgate shopping centre.
The development would replace office space and, with access to the flats via 80 Queensway, part of the ground floor unit previously occupied by BrightHouse would no longer be available for retail use.
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As part of the development, two storeys would be added to the building, which is currently three-storeys tall.
The plan includes 55 one-bedroom flats, 14 two-bedroom flats and two three-bedroom flats.
The development would not include any car parking spaces, but the council's planning officer said "this is considered to be appropriate, given the site’s location in the accessibility zone and the presence of parking controls on surrounding streets, as well as the fact that access is pedestrian only and there are no apparent locations where any car parking could be provided."
The council’s environmental health consultant raised concerns regarding the noise impact of a nearby commercial plant, but the planning officer said this "could be effectively mitigated".
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