Plans have been submitted to transform a former office space in the city centre into flats.

Blueprints handed into Colchester Council propose to convert two buildings in St Botolph’s Street into six flats. 

Parts of the property, located next to St Botolph’s Church Walk, are of early Victorian built. 

The ground floor is currently used as a barber shop, while other parts have been empty. 

According to the plans, the retail space on the ground floor would remain while the rest of the building would be converted into accommodation.

The developer has sought advice from Colchester’s planning officers prior to submitting the plans. 

The advice, which has been summarised in the heritage statement, says: “In essence, the advice was that the use of the building for residential use was acceptable.  

“The exceptional value of the area and individual heritage buildings was emphasised as well, recognising that the building had suffered from lack of maintenance and repair by former owners.  

“This scheme was seen as an opportunity to provide a sustainable solution for the enhancements, for example, windows to the primary elevations and to enhance areas of the building and its immediate setting that would result in enhancement to the host building and the setting of the listed buildings and Ancient Monument.” 

Previous plans received permission to transform the property into five flats. 

Colchester Council’s planning committee will decide on the application.