Plans to create 11 flats above a long-empty retail building in the centre of Nelson are recommended for approval when they go before councillors tonight.
The application from the Myan Partnership would, if passed, see 10 one-bedroom flats and one two-bedroom flat created over the old Woolworths and Burtons stores which front the Scotland Road precinct and Leeds Road.
As we reported in August, Pendle Council sold the building to Myan, which also plans to make up to five retail units which do not require planning permission as there is no change of use.
Planning officer Alex Cameron recommends the council’s Nelson Committee to approve the plans and says in a report: “The proposal to reuse the building is welcome.
“The attractive front facade to Scotland Road reuses the existing shop front openings.
“However the design would benefit from using a smooth ashlar stone rather than a brick or textured artificial stone.
“The elevation to Leeds Road is also important in that it now fronts on to the redesigned open space at the heart of the town centre.
“In order to draw people into the proposed arcade there is surely an opportunity here to design an entrance which creates an attractive focal point in the street scene, possibly using more glazed areas and enlarging the entrance to create a more transparent and open feel.”
At the time of the sale, Naheem Younis of Myan Partnership – a property-holding company – said: “We’re local residents and have businesses here. We’re really passionate about making Nelson a shopping destination again. It’s been vacant for a long time so there’ s a lot to do to make it fit for purpose.
“We’ve already had a lot of interest from businesses.
“We want the new-look building to complement the improvements made to Nelson Town
Centre. We’ll be adding new shop fronts to both Scotland Road and Leeds Road.”
