New plans to transform former Debenhams offices in Taunton into flats
The latest plans involve making numerous changes to the building to make it more habitable
New plans have been put forward to complete the transformation of the Debenhams back office in Taunton town centre into flats.
Both the Debenhams store on North Street and the back office at Bedford House on Park Street closed in January 2021 as part of the troubled brand going into administration.
Daejan (Taunton) Ltd. was granted permission by Somerset West and Taunton Council back in September 2021 to convert the newly-vacated offices into 69 flats.
Chestnut Property Developments Ltd. has now applied to make further alterations to the buildings before the flats can be sold on the open market.
Recent changes to planning law allow offices to be partly or wholly converted into housing under “prior approval schemes”, in a bid to ease the housing crisis by delivering smaller homes.
The latest plans involve making numerous changes to the building to make it more habitable and to cater for the kind of owners or tenants the new developer is wishing to attract.
The existing glazing of the building will be altered to increase ventilation and meet fire protection standards.
Juliet balconies (which typically comprise a sheet of glass with a metal rail) will be installed and the external escape staircase will be removed as new fire safety measures are installed within the complex.
The car park’s layout will be changed, with two spaces being sacrificed, and 18 cycle spaces will be relocated to allow a new electricity substation to be provided on-site to power the homes.
The existing air conditioning equipment will be removed from the roof, with air source heat pumps being installed with an “acoustic enclosure” to reduce noise for both new and existing residents in this part of Taunton.
Catherine Knee, associate planning at Collier Planning (representing the London-based developer), said: “The proposed alterations are required to facilitate the conversion of the building to 69 dwellings.
“The alterations described are relatively minor and will improve the appearance of the building.
“The proposed alterations to the car parking layout will result in the reduction of tw spaces. This is considered acceptable in light of the site’s highly sustainable location.
“The site also provides for 112 cycle spaces in accordance with the prior approval of the original plans.”
Somerset Council – whose County Hall headquarters is mere yards from the development site – will make a decision on these new plans by the end of the year.