A major planning application submitted to Boston Borough Council has officially been approved, paving the way for the upper floors of a Grade II listed former restaurant in Boston town centre to be converted into residential units.
The application, lodged by Stamford-based RTK Planning on behalf of Warrant Investments PLC, was approved this week and outlines the transformation of the building’s first and second floors from commercial support areas into 10 residential units – comprising nine one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment.
In addition, eight parking spaces will be created to support the new homes.
The building, prominently situated at the junction of Wide Bargate and Park Gate, has remained partially vacant since national restaurant chain Prezzo closed its doors in March 2023. The property owner put forward the conversion as a sustainable means to ensure the building’s full use, preserve its historic character, and provide much-needed housing within the town centre.
Key to the approval was the plan’s sensitivity to the building’s listed status. The proposal includes removing a modern-era staircase and replacing it with a new fire-protected internal staircase, while minimising alterations to the historic fabric. Changes will be restricted largely to the second-floor area, with the ground floor and much of the original structure remaining untouched.
Importantly, the ground floor commercial units – including the former Prezzo restaurant and Café Noglish – will remain operational and unaffected. The application aimed to strike a careful balance between preserving heritage and repurposing underutilised space, a goal which planners agreed had been successfully achieved.
The property, which has evolved over time from a private residence to a bank and later a restaurant, comprises a striking three-storey frontage with a hipped slate roof – the portion which contributes to its Grade II listed status. Behind this is a two-storey flat-roofed addition dating from 1967, made of exposed concrete beams and coloured panels, which has historically served as ancillary commercial space.
Although located in Flood Risk Zone 3, no significant objections were raised during the planning process. The scheme is considered an important step in securing a viable long-term future for the building, particularly as efforts to re-let the commercial spaces following Prezzo’s closure had failed.
The approval recognises that while the upper floors are no longer viable as commercial premises, their conversion to residential will secure the upkeep and continued use of the historic structure. The remaining ground floor commercial elements ensure the site retains employment use in a town centre location, complementing Boston’s regeneration priorities.
The site falls within the Boston Conservation Area, with several other listed buildings in close proximity. The application, formally titled: “Conversion of existing first and second floor areas from commercial support areas into 10no. residential units. Minor alterations required to the modern era aspect of the Listed Asset”, was supported by a parallel Listed Building Consent application.
Planning officers noted that while the building’s façade remains a defining feature from the late 18th century, most of the interior was significantly altered during the 1960s and holds limited original features.
With permission now granted, work is expected to begin in the coming months, bringing the prominent town-centre building back into fuller use, while contributing to the local housing supply and protecting Boston’s architectural heritage.
