A FORMER museum next to Colchester Castle will be converted into student flats and apartments after plans were approved.

The plans see 30 student flats and six private apartments built in the historic former Museum Resource Centre, sitting between Ryegate Road and Maidenburgh Street.

The Museum Resource Centre is on Colchester Council’s local list of buildings of architectural and historic interest and is an undesignated heritage asset.

This means, although not suitable for designation nationally as a listed building, it is considered historically or architecturally significant.

Gazette:

The site neighbours a number of buildings of an “exceptional interest,” including Colchester Castle and the Roman Theatre.

Part of the centre is Victorian and was used as a brewery before being bought by E N Mason and Son in 1921 as premises for the Arclight works.

Read more: Two men arrested after drugs raid on 'quiet' street in Colchester

Found on the outskirts of Castle Park, it was used for storing some of Colchester’s historic artefacts but has fallen into disrepair.

The building is unique due to its distinctive single glazed windows covering three-storeys on its northern face, however the plans will see them replaced with a fresh, double glazed and framed set.

A planning report states: “The proposed development makes the best use of the previously built land and is designed to respect and maintain all its heritage assets.”

“The proposed external structural changes gives minimum amount of impact on the appearance causing no harm to neighbouring properties and retaining the character and the appearance of the surrounding area.

“The internal changes will maximise the layout and create modern, high-quality accommodation that will meet the rising demand for housing that can be seen locally and nationally.”

However, despite saying it is “relieved” to see a new application for the “important” site, questions have been raised by Colchester Civic Society about the replacement windows.

A spokesman for the society said: “A contemporary solution of replacement [windows] would be both injurious and historically inappropriate.

“The steel strap work design is very much a reflection of the building’s history and usage, and defines the visual as much as a timber sash to a Victorian terrace.”

The plans are among the latest student flat developments in Colchester.

They follow proposals for 270 more student flats to be built at Colne Quay, in the Hythe, as well as a 252 bedroom development in Magdalen Street.

Plans are in the pipeline for 356 further student flats in the Cultural Quarter off St Botolph’s Street.