Iconic Preston cafe to escape refurb of building it sits in

The classical coffee house, opened in 1932, is to stay exactly as it is while the adjoining retail unit is revamped and the two floors above both are turned into self-contained apartments.

The scheme, which has been given the thumbs up by planning officers, includes a new entrance for seven upstairs apartments and a new shop front for the downsized vacant unit next door.

But historic Brucciani's, with its stylish black and gold frontage, is not included in the plans, much to the relief of conservationists who feel it should be preserved at all costs.

The proposals for the double-fronted building at 91A-91C Fishergate mean a change for the floors above 91A which once housed Greggs pasty shop and more latterly the Indian takeaway Wrapchic.

Permission has been granted to switch from office accommodation to residential, while downstairs the former food outlet, which is now vacant, will remain as a commercial unit, albeit reduced in size.

The porch between 91A and 91C (Brucciani's) will be widened to create an entrance for residents and also a kiosk to house a bin store and a cycle store.

The two floors above Brucciani's have been used in the past as residential, so no change of use is needed to create six one-bed apartments and one two-bed.

Developers have pledged not to touch the ornate red-brick exterior of the property which was originally built in 1895 and sits in the Winckley Square Conservation Area.

A report to the planning department said the scheme would mean "the re-use of a vacant building which is in disrepair to residential use that will contribute to the council's housing provision.

"The proposals will provide efficient use of space which is currently under-utilised and degrading to the local street scene."

One letter of objection was received to the proposals citing the impact that construction noise would have on neighbouring properties. But planning officers said that because it would only be a temporary problems it was "insufficient to justify refusal."