Plans to turn Ashby's historic Grade II Hood Building into offices have been given the green light - almost two years after the scheme was made public.

An application for the demolition of the existing extension and change of use of existing school to office building and erection of two storey and single storey extensions - including parking area - was made in March 2020.

The applicant is listed only as Mr J. Pitchford, with the Hood Building as an address.

Planning permission was granted last February by North West Leicestershire District Council.

Plans to convert Hood Building into offices.

Since then however, the council has had to be satisfied that work connected with landscaping, archaeology, to ensure the adequate investigation of archaeological remains prior to development, and large scale detail, to ensure a satisfactory standard of external appearance, has been carried out Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

But the plans finally got the go-ahead this week for the modernisation of the building.

A council officer's report last year said: "The Hood Building to which this application relates is a grade II listed building and used to be the Ashby de la Zouch Boys' Grammar School of the early 19th century.

advertisement

"This building is considered of high historical interest due to its contribution to the development of the town and the gate piers and street boundary wall are also grade II listed."