September 27, 2022 12.16 pm This story is over 23 months old

New flats and shops to replace Lincoln carpet shop

Business has sat vacant for number of years
The development would replace the vacant Carpets 4 Less building which has remained vacant for a number of years

Plans to convert a former carpet outlet into a four and five storey apartment block are set to get the go-ahead.

Sarwar Aziz’s application to demolish the former Carpets 4 Less building off Dunford Road and build 47 apartments and two ground floor retail units will appear before City of Lincoln Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday.

The business, which sits immediately south of Pelham Bridge, has sat vacant for a number of years and officers say the site is within a Regeneration Opportunity Area.

Recommending approval, a report before the committee said the principle of the site was considered “acceptable” and would “relate well to the site and surroundings”.

“The proposals would also not cause undue harm to the amenities which occupiers of neighbouring properties may reasonably expect to enjoy,” they said.

“Overall, the development is of a scale that would not appear overly dominant in this part of the city and, long views of the historic hillside are not interrupted by this development.

An artist’s impression of the build.

“It is considered that the proposal is appropriate in terms of making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness and responding to the established character of the area”

However, a viability assessment carried out by the owner has said applications for contributions towards affordable housing, education, NHS and open space would “make the scheme unviable”.

Independent assessors have agreed and the developer will not be asked to provide any contributions, unless the build became viable after it was completed.

The application has received comments from two neighbouring properties with concerns including the scale of the building, loss of light and traffic.

Further designs for the flats.

A Design and Access Statement submitted with the plans said the building had seen no investment since being vacated and was now falling into disrepair.

They said plans would see the new build detach the site from the one next door and would reveal more of an historic Victorian wall between it and the neighbouring Buildbase.

They said the development would be integrated into the local area using red brick and terracota tones of the nearby Victorian buildings.

It will include car, motorcycle and bicycle parking.