A FORMER car showroom is set to be demolished to make way for a new sheltered housing block and ten apartments.

Plans have been unveiled to build a total of 44 sheltered living flats and ten apartments on the old Lookers Renault garage, in Military Road, Colchester.

All of the existing showroom buildings on site would be demolished in preparation for the revamp.

A design and access statement prepared by Turner Jackson Day Associates said: "The proposal will provide 44 sheltered housing apartments, and ten residential apartments, which have been carefully situated on the site to address relationships with existing buildings and boundaries, the overriding pattern of development in the area and their impact on the street scene.

"By breaking down the mass and emphasising the verticality of the architecture, it allows the buildings to be read as a series of dwellings, which turn the corner and face onto a central space, which provides access to both buildings and is delineated with planting and landscaping.

"The scheme has evolved through collaboration with a number of specialist consultants, to develop a deliverable scheme which not only meets policy requirements, but provides a high quality development which will significantly improve the existing site and it’s impact on the surrounding area."

Gazette:

  • How the new apartments could look once complete

The site is home to a number of buildings, the first the former car showroom with offices above and a six bay workshop to the rear.

There is an additional flat roof sales office at the front of the site as well as a distribution centre and storage area behind.

All of the buildings on site will be demolished to make room for the new development.

The report said: "The development will seek to reinstate the street frontage along Military Road, providing a carefully considered design solution which will fit sympathetically within the site.

"The development site lies within a predominantly residential area which comprises of both two and three-storey, mostly terraced dwellings characterised by traditional architectural styles with no prevalent material palette.

"The site is largely outside the Conservation Area boundary, with just the southern most area falling inside the Conservation Area."

It adds: "Pre-application advice was sought in February 2020, and following some minor amendments to the design and further clarification, the scheme was considered acceptable by both the planning officer and urban design officer."

Colchester Council will have the final say on the plans.