Flats for historic buildings in Hereford

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Friday, 8 April 2022 18:21

By Gavin McEwan - Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to convert four adjoining properties in Hereford’s historic heart into 10 flats have been given the go-ahead.

The grade II-listed terraced buildings of 32-35 Bridge Street were most recently used as offices, but have remained vacant since a previous permission was granted to turn them into four houses, since deemed unviable.

Standing on “one of Hereford’s oldest streets”, the buildings’ exteriors and interiors “have been altered over time and are an interesting palimpsest [something altered but still bearing traces of its earlier style], the council’s planning officer said.

The latest application describes them as “good examples of late Georgian and Victorian domestic design” which could “provide a viable residential solution with the minimum of alterations”.

However, the roof of one proposed flat “is now in such a bad state that it is considered best to rebuild it, retaining the same pitch, eaves, details etc”.

A first-floor extension is also proposed for one of the flats.

The 10 planned flats consist of three one-bedroom, six two-bedroom and one three-bedroom homes.

The existing car park to the rear is to be retained for residents’ use, and they would also share a garden area.

Historic England urged revisions to the proposed landscaping scheme to avoid harming elements of the city walls, ramparts and ditch, a scheduled ancient monument.

One of the 18 conditions attached to the permission is that an archaeological investigation must first be carried out. Another requires covered and secure cycle parking facilities to be provided.

And given the nearness of the houses to the river Wye, their basements and cellars “shall not be used for any habitable accommodation nor the storage of hazardous materials”, the permission notice said.