Plans have been approved to convert a building in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter into eight flats and two retail units.
Parliament House on Montpellier Street is currently home to Harrogate Wines shop and a vacant gym and is spread across three floors.
North Yorkshire Council approved an application to convert the building last week.
Developer ATC Properties said the flats will be aimed specifically at young professionals and key workers who are looking to get onto the property ladder.
Each flat will have an ensuite double bedroom with an open plan kitchen, dining and living area.
Documents attached to the application described the site as an “intrusive utilitarian building” at odds with one of Harrogate’s most architecturally-appealing areas.
They added the conversion provided an opportunity to “significantly refurbish a prominent building of poor architectural quality and detailing”.
Civic society objection
A third floor extension was removed following concerns from Harrogate Civic Society, which objected to the plans.
The conservation group said the remodelling of the building “does not reflect the local historic style of the conservation area.”
Other prominent town centre buildings, including the former post office on Cambridge Street, have seen applications to convert them into flats approved in recent months. However, the civic society’s objection letter raised concerns about the trend. It said:
“In principle we are keen to see sustainable town centre living but
are always concerned that local commercial uses will not make for a low standard of residential amenity.”
Concerns were also raised by local residents and business owners about parking.
However, the council wrote in its decision report that the site
was in an accessible town centre location, close to shops, facilities and public transport connections, and secure cycle storage would be provided within the building.
The plans were ultimately approved by the new council as one of its first acts as the new planning authority for Harrogate, replacing Harrogate Borough Council.
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Comedian Alan Carr spotted filming in Harrogate today
Comedian Alan Carr has been spotted filming in Harrogate today.
The ‘Chatty Man’ drew a crowd of onlookers at the Westmorland Sheepskins shop on Montpellier Parade.
The production team confirmed they were shooting an episode of BBC One’s Interior Design Masters.
They were unable to give an exact date on when it will be broadcast, however it is expected to be at least six months.
Comedian Alan Carr, pictured in Harrogate fighting off a wasp.
Read more:
The popular show follows 10 aspiring designers all looking for their big break in the fast-paced world of commercial interior design.
The designers take on a new interior design challenge up and down the country each week, ranging from show homes, shops and restaurants to beach huts, bars and luxury holiday villas.
They are usually given two or three premises each to either do up individually or as a team.
At the end of each challenge, the weakest designers face the judges and explain their design decisions, with at least one contestant being eliminated.
Mr Carr was also spotted in Bettys, on Parliament Street, today.