Historic Preston property on Moor Park Avenue might become a family home again after decades of other uses
An historic Preston property is hoping to become a family home again after decades of other uses.
Last week, a planning application was submitted for 9 Moor Park Avenue for a “Change of use from educational institution (Class F1(a)) to 5no. bed dwellinghouse (Class C3) and associated works”.
The building, located within the Moor Park Conservation Area since 2013, is one of the many ‘villa’ style houses lining the Grade II Moor Park which hail from the 1800s and “represent a significant period of Preston’s urban expansion, characterized by high-quality masonry and formal architecture” according to the planning agent, A&T Architectural Design.
The 573.92 square metres site has not however been a residential property for an awfully long time.
It was last used as offices by CC Housing Management up until last year but according to planning history it has been, in reverse chronological order, a day centre, a residential children's home, offices and even a convent.
The earliest planning application available on the Preston City Council website, which states the property is a convent at the time, is dated as 1990 but the Post could not find any more details on its history.
These new plans however seek to change the use of the property from “its current commercial use” to a “substantial 6-bedroom family home” - these specifics being reaffirmed in the Design and Access Statement.
The proposal will see the ground floor reconfigured to include a reception, lounge, kitchen, dining room, study room, and a sun room, whilst a new wet room and WC are also proposed.
The first floor, which is currently home to an ICT suite, office, Arts & Craft room, Vocation room, storage and toilets, will then accommodate four bedrooms (including a master with a walk-in wardrobe), a family bathroom, and a WC.
The second floor will then see the conversion of three smaller bedrooms into two larger bedrooms, complete with a new bathroom and sunroom.
The existing garage will be rained but the application form states that is necessary to demolish its roof as it is “in a state of disrepair”.
Outlining the impact of the proposal in the Heritage Statement, A&T Architectural Design said: “Restoration of Use: Reverting the building from commercial back to residential use is inherently sympathetic, restoring the building's original social and architectural function.
“Material Integrity: The use of natural slate and Heritage 2800 windows corrects previous unsympathetic alterations. All masonry repairs will use matching red brick to ensure visual continuity.
“Subservient Elements: Modern interventions such as the EPDM garage roof, solar panels, and composite gates are located to the rear, ensuring the primary heritage frontage on Moor Park Avenue remains unaffected.”
Offering a further example of how the proposal will enhance the site’s architectural character, the agent states that the existing high hedges will be replaced bya formal stone-and-railing foundry that “reinforces the historic streetscape”, having been historically what boundaries in the Moor Park Conversation Area consisted of.
The agent concludes: “The proposal represents a sensitive and high-quality restoration of a non-designated heritage asset. The works enhance the property's character while ensuring its sustainable future as a family home within the Moor Park Conservation Area.”
The planning application form also confirmed that work has not yet begun on the development which will in turn see no changes to pedestrian and vehicle access,parking spaces.
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