Cafe and flats plan for former undertakers in Norwich Road Wisbech

A former funeral directors could have a new lease of life as a cafe if plans for a change of use are granted.

Mr T He has submitted an application to change the ground floor at 37 Norwich Road, Wisbech into a cafe and to extend and raise the height of the building’s roof to create two flats.

A letter in support of the application from Nick Seaton, of Anglia Building Consultants on behalf of the applicant, explains the building has been empty for some time, and has previously had planning permission for conversion into four flats and a workplace home.

However, that was never acted upon.

Mr Seaton explains the proposal now is to alter the premises to provide a first floor, as with the previous approval, with two flats at that level, while maintaining the ground floor for commercial use, but as a cafe.

In a design and access statement, also drawn up by Anglia Building Consultants, it explains the last use for the redundant building as as a funeral directors.

It explains the property is adjoining the China Garden, Chinese takeaway, which has residential accommodation over the eatery. It is also in the ownership of Mr He.

The statement explains that 37 Norwich Road has a circular tower with a large glazed shop front, which would remain.

The building is constructed from brick with a flat roof that hidden behind a steep pitched roof and it is proposed to remove the composite slate roof and extend the walls up with a new parapet wall hiding a new raised roof structure behind, replicating the design of the adjacent building.

It is thought the premises were originally built as a small supermarket.

The proposal will see the creation of two flats on the upper floor, one one bedroom the other with two bedrooms.

The statement concludes but pointing out that the development includes commercial use which will have community benefits because it will create jobs, and the flats will only result in a small loss of the commercial element.

It says: “The current proposal will therefore have a community benefit, allowing what has been an empty property for some time to be brought back into use, as well as the potential to create employment and a cafe.”