New flats conversion plan for offices in historic building
Offices above a Wolverhampton food takeaway and a nail bar in a Victorian building will converted into residential accommodation.
The two floors above Shawarma restaurant/takeaway, Smoking and Vaping Accessories and Vy’s Nails, in Queen Street, will be turned into flats following a successful application by Ranjit Singh Uppal of Uppal & Singh Properties.
The first floor currently houses a watch repair business, a flat and two offices while the second floor accommodates a clock repair business, a flat and an office.
A design and access statement from Wolverhampton-based Sigma Home Solutions, the agents acting on behalf of Mr Uppal, said: “We estimate that the building was built sometime in the 1800s and we can determine this from the quality of the ornate frontage with its terracotta columns, window surrounds, pinnacles and coping with stone bands and cornices.
“The proposed development will combine and convert the vacant offices into one self-contained duplex flat. The main access will be from the first floor, where a shower room and bedroom will be fitted. A new private staircase will provide access to the second floor where the lounge/kitchenette will be located.
“Basically, the existing three rooms previously used as office space will create one new flat, providing private safe and private accommodation equal to other local dwellings in the city centre. The flat will be accessed from Queen Street by way of a single staircase to the upper floors.
“The building’s facade will remain largely unchanged. Two ventilation points will be fitted through the walls at the rear of the building. The front elevation will remain unchanged. All the existing windows will be replaced with timber double-glazed units,” added the statement.
“Although the building is not listed by Historic England or locally listed by Wolverhampton Council, it is a significant asset to the local area due to its age and the period of its design. Internally, it has previously gone through significant alterations, and unfortunately lost a lot of its original features.”
Uppal & Singh Properties is based in Lichfield Street in Wolverhampton.