PLANS have been submitted to add a roof extension to an art deco style building in Stourbridge town centre.

A planning application seeks approval to add an extension to create a new second floor on to 12-14 Foster Street to accommodate two one-bedroom flats.

The plan, submitted to Dudley Council’s planners, also seeks to turn vacant first floor office space into two one-bedroom flats but this would fall under permitted development rights and could be approved through a prior approval application.

Minor alterations are proposed to the ground floor commercial unit, which is currently vacant but advertising a soon to open burger eatery, to create a separate residents’ entrance and bin stores.

A design and access statement said the shop unit would operate independently and it adds: “Creating residential accommodation on the upper floors will serve to activate and enliven the streetscape and create high levels of passive surveillance over the public realm.

"Their occupation would also improve the appeal of the vacant commercial unit and help in securing a new tenant.

“The existing art deco façades are in a poor state of repair following a considerable period of neglect and lack of general maintenance. The proposal would see the building benefit from new painted render, slimline aluminium double-glazed windows and refurbished/replacement rainwater goods.”

It says the proposed roof extension to the two-storey building would be “sympathetic in design to the host building” and would be clad in aluminium rainscreen with windows matching the refurbished first floor.

The statement adds: “The roof extension would be appropriate in scale and wouldn’t have an overbearing impact on the neighbouring properties.”

No parking provision is proposed at the prominent ring road facing building, due to its central location close to the town’s bus and train station.

Cycle storage would be provided to encourage bicycle use by residents.