Derelict former social club could become flats and retail space

The Marston Road building dates back to the Victorian period and previously provided retail space as well as a meeting venue. It has been reduced in size over the years, from three storeys to just one and a half, and currently stands empty.

But plans have now been put forward to Stafford Borough Council to create three new apartments, with retail space on the ground floor. There would also be five car parking spaces at the back.

A design and planning statement submitted as part of the application said: “The proposal site has been derelict for several years, is one of several blighted buildings in the locality and is currently vacant. No 23 was a brick built former social club, with original accommodation over three floors.

“Over time, the building suffered from severe settlement and initially the third floor and roof were removed. Following this the first floor began to bow into Marston Road and the first floor was also removed. Following the staged demolition the building was left with only the front, side and rear external walls remaining to a level of approximately one and a half storeys and various internal walls.

“The scheme will retain the remaining existing Marston Road façade, by means of a sensitive brickwork repair schedule. Bricks from all remaining existing walls will be retained for re-use on ground floor level walls.

“This proposal will not only result in the re-use of a currently derelict building for a high-quality mixed-use apartment (and) retail scheme, it provides the planning department the opportunity to provide a further positive catalyst for the regeneration of the wider area.”

If the application is approved the apartments would occupy three out of four floors – but the building would match the height of the neighbouring three-story building, the statement said.

It added: “This has been achieved by dropping the first-floor level, so half of the floor is located behind the retained historic façade. The top floor is entirely within the roof zone and has been pitched back away from Marston Road to further reduce the mass.

“The overall height of the building is lower than the historic building it intends to replace and is considerably shorter in length, in order to provide parking to the rear and to minimise impact to adjacent residential buildings.”