Charlton Arms, Wellington, Shropshire

The Grade II-listed former Charlton Arms Hotel in Wellington was desperately in need of a new lease of life.

Challenges in its operation and the maintenance of an ageing building, followed by a devastating fire, meant the former coaching inn lay dormant for nearly a decade, from 2006. The once iconic building was in a state of disrepair, suffering from vandalism and becoming a blight in the town centre landscape.

However, the building entered a new chapter in its history when we put forward a proposal to convert the building into 11 apartments while building a further 16 new apartments and five terraced houses within the grounds. In addition, a proposal was submitted for a further four terraced houses on a linked neighbouring site at Plough Road.

The planning case was complex, involving undertaking a viability and marketing study to support the loss of a public amenity.

This meant there was a considerable delay to commencing on-site but phase one of the development - the renovation of the listed building - started in 2017 with phase two - the new build - following in 2018.

The work was completed in the summer of 2019, ensuring there was no longer an empty building blotting the corner of Church Street in the centre of the Wellington community and providing needed housing.