PLANS have been submitted to demolish a former dye works and redevelop the site with four detached houses.
An outline planning application has been submitted by David Barlow to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to knock down the factory in Mill Street, Leek, which sits to the rear of The Retreat building.
A design and access statement, submitted on behalf of the applicant by Natalie Hewitt of Hewitt and Carr Architects of Cheadle, states that approval is requested for the demolition of the existing inhabitable factory premises and redevelopment of the brownfield site.
Miss Hewitt said: “The applicant originally purchased this site as part the premises known as The Jester public house.
“During this period, when time was spent running and expanding the growing business, an application was submitted to convert part of the building into providing further hotel accommodation, which was approved in 1984.
“This work did not take place.
The existing building was occupied and used as a commercial business premises by Roger Goodwin Pine Services from 1998 to 2008.
“Due to the general deterioration of the building fabric and a series of break-ins, the tenant decided to relocate.”
The report to planners said that in November 2008 the landowner appointed Louis Taylor to advertise the premises for sale or to let.
However, there has been virtually no interest in the premises.
Miss Hewitt added: “It is understood that one key planning policy consideration for changing the building use from commercial to residential is that a full marketing exercise has been carried out, which can be demonstrated as having taken place.
“During this time building control has raised concerns on a number of occasions concerning the structural integrity of the building.
“A number of letters have been issued expressing concern over the stability of the building given the close proximity to an existing well used public footpath.
“It is proposed that the dwellings will be two-storey in height, providing a clear aspect from principal windows and still fitting neatly below the windows of the apartments that have been located in Belle View Mill.
“The proposed footprint will be a considerable reduction of what currently exists based on a provision of a single car parking per dwelling and an area for private garden.”
The dwellings would be accessed via the main access onto The Retreat car park and a right of way through the car park would be granted and maintained.
A clear hammer head turning area at the top of the site is also provided.
A decision on the application is expected within the next eight weeks.
