Restaurant and flats plan for empty Walsall shop
An empty historic Walsall town centre shop could be converted into a restaurant and apartments, if a planned transformation goes ahead.
Applicant G11 Capital Ltd has put forward a proposal to Walsall Council planners to open a new restaurant at the unit in Bridge Street and create seven flats on the floors above.
The shop was designed by town architect Samuel Loxton and built in 1892 and housed Taylor’s Music Shop, which sold new and used instruments and provided tuition and repair services.
Its striking stonework on the outside features musical instruments carved by Walsall sculptor John Lea, who taught at the Science and Art Institute, at the time it was built.
There are also carvings of the heads of composers Handel, Bach, Mozart and Haydn as well as Biblical scenes.
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These features and the shop’s historical significance saw it given a Grade II listing status in 1986. The exterior of the shop would be untouched if the development goes ahead.
Over the years, it has had a number of uses including being a former bank and offices but has lain empty for several years.
Developers have applied for listed building consent to change the use of the ground floor from a shop to restaurant and introduce the apartments on the upper floors, installing partitions to create different rooms.
Condition
It is estimated that the new restaurant would bring in six full time and three part time staff and would operate from midday to 11pm seven days a week.
Agents Architecture and Interior Design said: “The site sits within a popular shopping destination compromising of many retail and restaurant/takeaway businesses surrounding.
“The property consists of a Grade II listed building. Structurally the building is in a good condition internally and externally.
“The site is in an ideal location for the proposed use as it sits in the city centre and popular tourist destination and surrounded by many other businesses, with a mix of bars, restaurant, retail and professional businesses.
“The proposal is for the change of use from a bank to a restaurant while the first floor, second and third floor to be changed in to seven units with living and accommodation.
“The proposed internal alterations will involve the installation of a few partition walls to create bedrooms and new door openings.
“Apart from these minor changes the external of the building will be kept the same and proposed layout will make the current spaces more appropriate in size and volume.
“The rooms would be let, to young individuals working nearby, who cannot afford a house on the open market. There will be no extension or alterations required to the external envelope of the property.”
