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Grade II listed house could become flats
A developer hopes to resurrect planning permission to convert historic Brook House, St Neots, into five flats.
Huntingdonshire District Council first approved the former offices to be turned into flats five years ago but in 2021 agents said a sale of the South Street property was to continue to use it as offices.
Barfords director Phil Halmshaw said in 2021 that the “conclusion of the sale for continuing commercial use is a vote of confidence in St Neots as a business location in this increasingly difficult economic climate.
“Despite the talk of economic downturn, the demand for commercial space in the Huntingdonshire area remains relatively strong.
“This is coupled with a general shortage of new and good quality second-hand office and industrial buildings, so we remain optimistic that deals will continue to be concluded.”
But a fresh application before Huntingdonshire District Council is to revive a 2017 approval for flats; it has been submitted Project Design Studio Ltd for Mr Paul Hughes.
It is a full application for the conversion of the Grade II Listed building into 5 No. 2 bedroom apartments.
“Extreme care will be taken to retain and restore the remaining historic features of the building, including the staircase (although not original), wooden panelling and doors where fire regulations allow,” says Project Design.
“The exterior of the building will remain unchanged with all window and door openings as the existing building.
“The roof has had repairs in the past, the duo pitch having been replaced with a flat lead roof at some point as well as additional timbers and purlin supports.”
The company says the application proposes a reversion back to the earlier proposal of conversion of the Grade II* house (now former offices) to 5 flats- as agreed in the 2017 applications, permission & consent.
Brook House is described as an impressive C16th Grade II Listed Building located in St Neots town centre.
