A prominent building in the heart of a Herefordshire town could be turned into five one-bedroom flats.

Part of the former Lloyds Bank building at 13 Broad Street, Bromyard, which closed last October, its first floor and the neighbouring 17 Broad Street, which previously housed a dentist’s, are now earmarked for the redevelopment.

The plan has been put forward by Manbro Developments, which has worked in recent years to bring several Hereford properties back into use.

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Its latest bid is made under so-called permitted development rights, which allow for commercial properties to be repurposed for residential use under certain conditions without the need for full planning permission.

Most of the ground floor of 13 Broad Street would be unaffected, leaving the option of a new commercial tenant, with only the proposed flat in the smaller Number 17 occupying the ground floor.

The four other flats would occupy the first floor of the two properties. It appears from submitted plans that all five would share the current entrance to 17 Broad Street.

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Thought to date from the late 19th or early 20th century, the two buildings are unlisted but sit within the town’s conservation area.

“We consider the effect on the character or sustainability of the conservation area to be negligible and arguably positive, insofar as residential use of the partial ground floor is preferable to no use at all,” the firm’s application says.

It adds that all its planned flats would meet the national minimum space standard, and would be in “a highly sustainable location” as regards transport.

Comments on the application, numbered 232559, can be made until September 16.

The two properties were marketed together for single freehold sale earlier this year, for offers in the region of £250,000.