Former shoe factory to become apartments

Much of the original windows of the building will be kept

A former shoe factory near Stafford town centre is set to be transformed into living space.

Nine two-bedroom apartments will be built on the site in Marston Road after councillors approved changing its use.

The building, built in the 1870s, is vacant after previously being used as a licensed club, dance studio and gym, Stafford Borough Council's planning committee heard.

Councillors praised plans to retain the outside of building - once at the heart of the shoemaking industry in Stafford.

It was built for Thomas Mottram and is one of the last former shoe factories in town retaining a high proportion of its original window arrangement.

Committee members agreed to limit construction work time for the benefit of neighbouring properties, with work conducted between 09:00 and 17:00 GMT Monday to Friday and until 14:00 on Saturdays.

Councillor Frances Beatty said: "It is a very important part of Stafford – the last part of the shoe industry as the buildings are either the factories or houses the workers used to live in.

"It is extremely important the building should stay unaltered on its facade and we should not lose the historic character.

"Secondly, we are short of two-bedroom apartments; they meet housing needs in Stafford that are not met.

"Because it's in town, it has a lot of advantages for people who can't afford to have a car to have a home of their own."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.