Grade II listed former Powys bank could be turned into flats

An application has been made to turn 42 Broad Street in Welshpool into a set of eight new flats.

The building was once the home of Montgomeryshire Bank before it was taken over by Lloyds in the 19th Century.

The property was purchased by Welshpool Town Council in the mid 20th Century and acted as an office for the charity Pothafren as late as 2019.

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In the plans submitted by designers Creative Planning on behalf of their client Zem Zaza, it states any changes will be to the rear of the building.

They said: “The ground floor of the listed building will remain as a E(c)(i) – Financial services use class and the front access will be retained. The side access will be used and lobbied off to allow access to the upper floors using the existing staircase."

The plans would see “the first and second floors with contain two one-bedroom apartments each (4no. in total) utilising the existing external openings and proposing only minor internal changes.

“These are limited to new partitions and the relocation of some of the internal openings. All existing features including fireplaces have been retained.”

Creative Planning add that “The cellar will be utlised as a communal store and laundry room for the occupants of the apartments.

“The single-storey flat roof extension will contain a one-bedroom apartment and the more recent extension with a pitched roof will be divided up to create three one-bedroom apartments.

“Each apartment complies with the minimum internal space standards and contains a single bedroom with bathroom / shower facilities and a kitchen / dining / living area.”

The company argue that the design would have “the least disturbance to the historic fabric and the preservation of its external appearance, architectural features and plan.

“The very few new openings and minor alterations to the floor plan will result in a negligible level of less than substantial harm that is clearly and convincingly outweighed by the public benefit of returning the building to a sustainable use.”