Ilkeston flat plans

The current building at 50-52 Bath Street, Ilkeston. Image from Google.

A building housing two Derbyshire high street shops could gain a fourth floor in a new planned flat conversion.

The three-storey property at 50 and 52 Bath Street in Ilkeston is currently home to a Ladbrokes gambling shop and the Chamunda News Food & Wine off licence.

Bath Street, the town’s high street, is dominated by traditional three-storey properties, with shops on the ground floor and vacant space, storage and flats above.

There has been a long-standing issue in Ilkeston with derelict shop fronts and unkempt, disrepair, and long-vacant buildings, including floors in historic properties.

This has seen efforts from the borough council to serve notices on owners and also a notable increase in applications to convert upper floors into flats, to bring them back into use and drive income towards repairs and the retention of viable shop units.

The latest iteration of this shift would see a new floor added to the traditional red brick property at 50-52 Bath Street, next to Boots, which still includes an alleyway under the two halves of the property and an arch over what was a central window.

This would be a notable difference to previous plans, although a setback fourth floor has already been added to the neighbouring property, which had contained Peacocks.

The plans, from DProp6 Ltd, submitted to Erewash Borough Council, would see a fourth floor added to the building, the shops retained, a ground floor extension to the rear, and all of the upper floors converted into nine flats.

This new floor would also be set back slightly to match the style at the neighbouring 54 Bath Street, with sliding doors and a glass-enclosed balcony.

The windows would be upgraded throughout the building, including re-adding missing traditional brickwork borders and the missing half of the central window.

White render would be applied to the rear of the building to cover “dilapidated brickwork”.

If approved, the site would gain two parking spaces, while the breakdown of accommodation would include five one-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom flats.

Documents submitted by the applicant detail: “The proposed development represents a change of use that is appropriate and acceptable and would preserve the Ilkeston Town Centre Conservation Area. 

“The proposed conversion of the building’s upper floors and proposed extensions, secures a viable long-term use that will ensure the building’s ongoing maintenance and preservation, while sensitively retaining its historic features and respecting the established character of the conservation area. 

“The conversion of underused upper floors within an existing building in a sustainable location helps to meet local housing needs, while avoiding unnecessary greenfield development.”