Planning permission to preserve, enhance and redevelop the former Marks & Spencer site, has been granted by Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Planning Committee.

The redevelopment at 32 Stodman Street consists of creating 29 new homes and between two to four new retail units whilst retaining the art deco façade.

The application, submitted by architects RG+P Ltd, has been developed to retain the significance of the building whilst ensuring that it does not remain an unused building anymore. The new building will complement the surrounding historic townscape while providing high-quality housing and retail premises.

The council said comments received as part of the application process from heritage and conservation organisations emphasise that no harm to the significance of the front of the building will occur, with the retention of the art deco facade.

The new site will also provide an opportunity to reinstate historic links by removing the eastern projection of the building to give visibility from Lombard Street to Stodman Street, improving the pedestrian thoroughfare, increasing the public realm, and returning the area to the historic layout of the town all of which is aimed at increasing greater footfall.

The redevelopment of 32 Stodman Street is one of nine priority projects outlined in Newark’s ‘Town Investment Plan’ (TIP), developed by the Newark Towns Fund Board.

Coun David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council and co-chair of Newark Towns Fund Board, said: “These plans will provide an excellent opportunity to breathe life back into this vacant space with an interesting and imaginative design that is sympathetic to the surrounding heritage buildings in Newark town centre and materially enhance the quality of the public realm.”

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