Collective Architecture have submitted a Planning Application on behalf of their client, The Wheatley Group, for the conversion of the former Cleansing Department building on Bell Street, into fifty-two 1 bedroomed and 2 bedroomed flats for Mid Market Rent.

The Cleansing Department building was constructed between 1896 and 1898 to the design of A.W. Wheatley, and was designed to house the City Cleaning Cleansing Department's horses, carts, harnesses and fodder. Whilst the horses were last in the building around 35 years ago, the building continued to serve the cleansing department until a few years ago.

The building’s listed status was upgraded from ‘C’ to ‘B’ in 2012. It is a significant part of the streetscape of Bell Street in the Merchant City and demonstrates a rare internal layout with ramped access to upper floor stables formed around a courtyard. The building sits amongst a group of Category A and B listed buildings that run along Bell Street from Wilson Street, on the western edge to the eastern edge of the Conservation Area.

The overall design approach is sensitively restore the external shell, with stonework and roof repaired, and windows returned to their original consistent window pattern. The central courtyard, which historically would have been a vibrant hub around which all the activity of the building would have revolved, is to be retained in this role. The courtyard space is to be reimagined as a semi private urban hard landscaped space for residents’ use. The courtyard acts as a natural sun trap from early morning to midday, and will create a well scaled and unique communal courtyard within the city centre.

The proposed materials for the new built elements are warm in tone, with some surface articulation to tie in with the warm red sandstone and brick, and to relate to the mixture of textures of the existing building. Bronze coloured perforated metal cladding is proposed for the lift cladding and for the infill to the 1955 doorway on Watson Street.