'Dilapidated' Warwick shop put up for sale after plans to convert into family home refused

By James Smith

18th Feb 2024 | Local News

The shop on Smith Street has been vacant since October 2022 (image via planning application)
The shop on Smith Street has been vacant since October 2022 (image via planning application)

A shop which was recently denied permission to be turned into a family home has been put on the market.

Available for just £190,000, the Smith Street unit was described as "dilapidated" in a recent planning application to Warwick District Council (WDC) as the owners tried to turn the grade II listed building into a two-bed house.

But the plans were labelled "unacceptable" before being refused by district planners.

Now the property is being marketed by local estate agent EHB Reeves.

The unit - which has been vacant since October 2022 - has 22.85 sq m of retail space on the ground floor, with a flat above.

The brochure simply says: "6 Smith Street is a Grade II Listed, mid terraced, period building.

"It provides retail accommodation at ground floor level and residential accommodation to the rear first floor level.

"The property also benefits from a small yard area located off the kitchen, and a cellar."

Alongside the application to repurpose the building, a supporting statement from local property agent Wareing and Co was also submitted.

"Despite viewings, the feedback has been that the location is not suitable given the lack of footfall in that area, meaning any business will struggle to survive," it said. 

"It is my opinion that the property is more suitable for residential conversion."

When the previous planning application was refused, WDC planners said the scheme would harm the "vitality and viability of the town centre".

The conservation officer has supported the fact no external alterations were planned and said "the proposal would have a neutral impact on the listed building and conservation area".

But planners said simply preserving the building was not enough justification for the change of use.

"The conservation officer's comments stating that it would be beneficial for the listed building to be occupied are noted, however, this benefit of the proposal is not sufficient to outweigh the in principle retail objection set out above," the council's report said.

"Indeed, it is not accepted that the ground floor unit could not successfully be occupied by a Class E [retail] use."

     

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