A former department store that has remained empty in a prime town centre site for four years could soon be set for a new lease of life.
Plans have been lodged to transform the "flagship" former Beales department store in Lowestoft town centre.
A scheme centring around "mixed use redevelopment" of the prominent building at 141 London Road North, has been submitted to East Suffolk Council.
An application for "Demolition of existing vacant commercial building and construction of five storey mixed use building comprising of residential dwellings (Class C3) on the upper storeys and commercial (Class E) on the ground floor with cycle parking, bin storage and amenity space" is currently "awaiting decision" with the council.
The 'proposed 3D views' show the potential scale of the scheme for a substantial site that had lastly housed Beales, but prior to this it had included chemists, opticians, a cycle company, Lowestoft Water and Gas and the Victoria Arcade.
However, many of these buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, leading to the entire block being rebuilt in the 1960s - with the site housing the former Co-op and then the Westgate store, before being sold to Bournemouth-based JE Beale plc in 2011.
Now, with 45 new homes and five new retail units earmarked for the department store that closed in April 2019 and has been vacant ever since, plans have been submitted by Tetrick Planning Limited on behalf of the applicant Panther (VAT) Properties Limited - a property investment company, based in Potters Bar.
The planning, design and access statement states: "The proposal seeks a mixed use redevelopment for the site, which has been vacant for some time and in doing so would assist in revitalising Lowestoft Town Centre.
"The scheme would assist in meeting the housing needs of local people while also providing modern flexible use commercial facilities to support the local economy in a flagship building specifically designed to create a focal point and a draw for visitors and investment."
Application details
With the site comprising a two-storey building, which includes a former department store on the corner of Regent Road and London Road North, it states: "The proposal would retain the existing commercial use on the ground floor with the creation of five commercial units.
"The development would also comprise 12 flats respectively on the first, second and third floors as well as nine flats on the fourth floor.
"The proposal includes 45 flats over four storeys with 18 one bedroom dwellings, 24 two bedroom dwellings and three, three bedroom dwellings.
"The proposal meets many of the aspirations of the Masterplan and would provide five flexible commercial units on the ground floor, in addition to much needed housing in a modern five storey building which has been specifically designed as a focal point to draw visitors and investment and assist in revitalising the area."
It concludes: "The proposals will enable the creation of much needed housing and investment in a town centre, highly sustainable location and help to reinstate the area's vibrancy and vitality."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here