Plans to turn the upper two floors of a Grade II listed building in Ashby into six flats have been given the green light.

An application was made last year to convert 60, Market Street, into apartments, by a Mr Arthur Holland.

The site is above a charity shop which does not form part of the application - and is also next to the Manhattan's nightclub.

North West Leicestershire District Council has allowed the development to go ahead after amended plans were received during the application which originally was for seven flats.

The floorspace above the charity shop will be turned into apartments. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

This was following concerns raised by the Conservation Officer that there could be a 'large loss' of historic fabric as a result of the proposal.

A potential loss of the chimney breasts and the window detailing was highlighted and has since been amended,

A council officer's report says: "On the basis of the above it is considered that these proposals would not result in harm to the setting of nearby Listed Buildings and would preserve the character and appearance of the Ashby De La Zouch Conservation Area.

A proposed first floor plan or the building

"It is also considered that the development would not harm the character and appearance of the building or the overall streetscape."

The building is next door to the soon to be vacated HSBC Bank building in Market Street.

But the report does address the impact of the development on future residents.

It adds: "Due to the location of the site, and the constraints of the Listed Building, the proposed accommodation would not provide any area of private amenity space, nor would the flats feature private balconies as recommended within the guidance set out within the Council's Good Design SPD.

"However, when having regard to the location of the site, multiple parks and open spaces are within walking distance of the proposed development and whilst depending upon the intended occupiers parks would not always be an adequate substitute for private amenity space, given the small size of the flats proposed it is considered they would likely be occupied by students and professionals working within the town rather than families who would likely find the lack of private amenity space to be a larger issue.

"Concerns were raised with the Council Environmental Protection Team as the site is located close to a nightclub.

"However, they raised no objections to the proposal advising, due to the proposed studio flats being located on the first and second floor of the property and the nearby nightclub being a single storey building to the rear of the site, the likelihood of noise disturbance from the nightclub should be minimal.

"Further, the night club building is flat roofed with no openings in the roof, so therefore sufficient noise attenuation should be provided by its fabric.

"Given the above, it is not considered the proposal would result in detriment to future residents that a reason to refuse the application could be substantiated."

The report concludes: "The principle of the development is acceptable.

"The proposal is not considered to have any significant detrimental design, heritage, residential amenity or highway impacts."