Plan to turn historic Ross-on-Wye building into home

Richard Williams sought planning permission and listed building consent in May to convert Windsor House in St Mary’s Street, Ross-on-Wye, a three-storey, early 19th-century, partly listed building.

It was last used by surveyors and auctioneers RG & RB Williams, who have since moved to the town’s auction centre by the Over Ross roundabout.

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There were to be no external changes to the building under his proposal. Inside new stud walls were to create en-suite bathrooms to two of the three bedrooms on the first floor, with a further bedroom and study occupying the second floor.

Attempts last year to sell the property for commercial use, at a guide price of £275,000, “drew no interest whatsoever”, according to a marketing report accompanying the application, which said its continued use as an office was unviable.

There were no objections from specialist consultees, the town council or the public.

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Planning officer Tracey Meachen said that being in a “highly sustainable” location, the lack of car parking with the property was “not unacceptable”, and indeed its proposed new use “is likely to lead to a lower number of car journeys than office use”.

“The proposal to change to residential is compatible with adjacent and nearby buildings that have had a similar change of use application approved,” she concluded.

Full planning permission was granted.