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An historic Driffield landmark building will be converted into a block of 40 flats if the East Riding of Yorkshire Council gives plans the green light.   A planning application has been submitted by Allan Peter Jennison to convert The Old Maltings, on Skerne Road, into 40 apartments for first-time buyers and young professionals.

The development will also include two flats for housing association use or for similar purposes, 19 off-street parking spaces and covered bike racks.

A report by council officers, to be discussed at a meeting of the Northern Area Planning sub-committee on September 22, said: "Conversion to residential use is one way of providing relatively low cost accommodation from a building which is now no longer required for its original use.

"In principle, the scheme offers the opportunity to bring new life into the building, particularly by attracting young people who have the potential to make a significant contribution to the local economy."

The Old Maltings was built in 1874 as part of the industrial heart of Driffield. Barges once sailed up the Driffield Canal delivering grain supplies to be milled in the town. However, since the building closed as a mill it has been used for various purposes, including an iron works and, more recently, a snooker club.

The report said: "The building is reflective of the industrial architecture of this part of the town and has been retained in good order, principally due to its ability to adapt to a number of industrial and commercial uses over the past 130 years."

A similar application to turn the Victorian red-brick former factory into a 40 apartment complex was withdrawn in July after council officers voiced concerns about access to the proposed development and a lack of planned provision for affordable housing.

The plans were amended and submitted again to include the plans for two flats to be rented by social landlords.

It is believed that councillors will defer their decision to give the planned development the go-ahead, pending a guarantee that two of the houses will be used for affordable housing.

The council is now looking at reports from health and safety officers, who have stressed that the proposed development should not increase the number of cars on the nearby level crossing or cause traffic jams caused by tailbacks from Wansford Road.
Conservation officers have objected to plans for extra doors, railings and windows, which they believe may spoil the character of the 19th century mill, which is part of a conservation area.

Officers are also waiting for a reply from Network Rail, who said the planned bicycle racks stood too close to a section of the Driffield to Beverley railway line. 18 September 2003