A row of shop buildings in Leicester’s Cank Street could be used for new homes. An application submitted to Leicester City Council reveals a developer wants to turn the upper floors of numbers nine to 15 Cank Street into accommodation.
The line of buildings include the former Paper Tiger store which recently became vacant. The iconic fancy dress store announced its closure in January after 50 years in the city.
Applicant JGM (Nottingham) LTD said the upper floors of the row had “remained unused for a number of years” and the rear extensions and roofs of the buildings had become “dilapidated and unusable”. It also wants to “restore and improve” the facades of the shop fronts which face Cank Street.
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JGM originally intended student flats for the buildings, documents show. However, following conversations with the council, the new homes are now proposed to be general residences. They would be a mixture of two studio flats and five “houses in multiple occupation” (HMOs) if the scheme is approved. The HMOs would comprise two seven-beds, one four-bed and two three-beds. HMOs are homes where separate households live together, sharing communal areas like kitchens and living rooms.
The existing “dilapidated roof” would be replaced with one which creates “additional residential space” in the upper areas. The extensions at the rear of number 9 would be demolished as well.
The developer said its intention was to also “create a simple ground floor commercial unit” in the space in addition to the flats. It is further proposing to “restore and improve” the facades of the shop fronts which face Cank Street. Design would be “contemporary” and “respectful to the neighbouring traditional architecture”, the application states.
A consultation on the plan is underway with residents able to have their say until Tuesday, June 18. A target decision date has been set by the city council for Monday, June 24.