A number of flats could be built above a Home Bargains store in Liverpool city centre.
A proposal has been lodged to Liverpool Council to convert the upper floors above the retailer's store on Bold Street into seven residential apartments. The plans, which will be discussed on Tuesday by the local authority’s planning committee, are recommended for approval.
The application, made by Home Bargains’ parent company TJ Morris, seeks to construct three one-bed apartments and four two-bed flats above the existing store near to Liverpool Central station.
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Part of the existing ground floor retail unit would be converted to provide a new internal staircase and passenger lift for the proposed residential apartments, which would be accessed from Wood Street, as well as a residential bin storage room and cycle storage room also with access from Wood Street.
The application site was originally a pair of Georgian town houses and would have previously had a ground floor raised by half a storey, accessed by steps over basement wells. The ground floor has since been altered to create a single shopfront that cuts across both houses.
To the rear, the properties retain their original outriggers, however, these were enlarged in the late 19th Century with industrial style extensions. The historic use of the currently vacant upper floors is unknown but likely formed part of said commercial unit, according to documents made public by Liverpool Council earlier this week.
The report said any loss of original Georgian window features “would be offset by the positive improvements to the Bold Street façade and the provision of adequate living conditions for future occupants in terms of internal noise levels which would make the scheme possible, thus bringing the historic upper floors back into use.”
An assessment by planning officers considered that the proposed residential accommodation “is acceptable in principle in this highly sustainable location, would provide an adequate mix of units and would facilitate the long-term use of the existing buildings.”
In recommending the scheme be approved by councillors, officers have also said planning permission should only be granted on the basis that the applicant enters into a section 106 agreement and provides a payment of £5,600 in lieu of the provision of trees.
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