Plans to transform a disused historic building into shops and apartments have been granted planning permission by Stafford Borough Council. 

Stone car dealership Hill and Swift have won permission to revamp the former Joules Maltings and to build an apartment block on neighbouring land. 

The Maltings, in Adies Alley, Stone, were on the brink of being demolished when English Heritage gave them Listed Building status in the 1990s. 

The plan will reinvigorate an under used area at the rear of Stone’s High Street, helping to create an attractive gateway into the town from the Trent and Mersey Canal. 

Plans for the development were drawn up by Stafford based Croft Architecture. 

Managing Director Carl Croft said: “We were overwhelmed by the support for the plans from the public when we published them late last year. 

“Following consideration, Stafford Borough Council has decided to approve the application without it having to go through the planning committee process.

The plans have been sympathetically devised to protect the historic Maltings drying area and preserve them as a building feature. 

All apartments will be built to a very high specification promoting quality town centre living at the heart of Stone. 

“Stone is an historic brewing town and we felt it was important to reflect this by incorporating elements of the Maltings interior into the plans,” said Carl Croft. 

“The drying area will be reworked as a shop which the owners feel would be ideal for a company selling local produce.” 

The new building is set to be developed on an old garage site opposite the Maltings. 

The planning application incorporates five apartments. Building height will vary from three and a half storeys at the rear to two storeys at the front in a plan designed to ensure that the historic Maltings building remains the prominent feature of the new development. 

ENDS 

For media enquiries contact Nigel Howle on 0776 2043436. 

Notes to Editors: 

Based at Staffordshire Technology Park, Beaconside, Stafford, Croft Architecture was set up by Carl Croft of Meir Heath in 2009. Croft Architecture has been commissioned for project both in the private and public sector 

A RIBA chartered practice, Croft Architecture has undertaken a diverse range of projects but has a foundation in the Education, Health, Care and Residential sectors. Other projects have included new Church projects, listed building work and commercial.

Services offered include Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban place making.

Carl Croft has been a Chartered RIBA Architect since 2004 and has had experience at a number of local practices before establishing Croft Architecture.

For further information on  Croft Architecture log on to www.croftarchitecture.com

6-7 Pearl House, Anson Court, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford, ST18 0GB.