CONVERTING part of a historic Ashton-under-Lyne shopping arcade into apartments has moved a step closer.
Part of the first and second floors, plus the roof space and a small section of the ground floor, at Clarence Arcade, will be turned into nine properties for up to 11 people if plans get the go ahead.
And Joseph Robertson, of Manchester-based JJRH Commercial, has been given prior approval by Tameside Council, meaning it agrees with the scheme in principle.
Now more detailed plans, including some of the conditions, such as the use of acoustic glazing, will be put forward for full approval.
Four apartments would be on the first floor of Clarence Arcade, four on the second and one in the roof space, with almost all of the ground floor section retaining its commercial use.
Clarence Arcade, built in 1894 as a shopping venue, has been used for a variety of purposes in recent years.
However, the office space targeted has been vacant for a period of time.
All properties would be accessed via the rear of the building at ground floor, from Fleet
Street and concerns raised by two objections were allayed in a report by planning officers.
They state: “The proposed self-contained units are located within Ashton town centre and thus well connected to public transport services (bus, train and tram), employment opportunities and other general infrastructure to address convenience and amenity requirements of the proposed residential units.
“The local planning authority thereby accepts the absence of off allocated off street parking in this case.
“It is likely that the proposed residential use would generate less traffic movements compared to the previous commercial use of the premises.
“Nighttime noise would primarily be associated with road traffic on surrounding highways and nightly street sweeping activities undertaken around the town centre in the early hours of morning using a mechanical street sweeper, which may cause noise disturbances to the future occupiers.
“To mitigate such concern, the Environmental Health Officer recommends a condition requiring details of noise mitigation measures, in the form of acoustic glazing and acoustic powered mechanical ventilation.
“The proposed nine self-contained units would provide a suitable standard of accommodation for the intended number of occupants.”