Former factory set to become new homes

A former factory in Leicester city centre can be brought back into use for new homes, planning officers have said.

The Carron Building on Rutland Street was built at the turn of the 20th Century as a leather warehouse.

It was then used for textile manufacturing until at least 1973 according to developers Moorhouse Projects Ltd, but in their planning application to Leicester City Council they claimed it has been left "largely vacant" ever since.

The property is now set to be given a new lease of life after planning officers approved proposals to create 16 flats in its upper floors.

The council's planning team said the proposal "seeks to give this long-term vacant building a new, active use" and will "secure its long-term preservation".

A change of use would also "allow for much needed repairs to the building", in turn "improving its general appearance", officers said.

The apartments will be made up of nine one-bed apartments and seven two-bed apartments.

While four of the new homes do not meet expected space standards, officers said the "under-provision" was "not significant".

Most of the new homes would also not have any communal indoor or outdoor amenity area, planning documents state, but there is a public green space in the churchyard next to the property which residents could use.

Officers deemed the provision of 16 new homes beneficial enough to outweigh the lack of amenity space.

A condition was attached to the scheme's approval restricting the basement use to solely for offices. Any other use could "impact on the flats above", officers said.

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