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Plans to convert a listed building, which was once home to the constituency office of disgraced ex-MP Peter Bone, into flats have been given the go-ahead by the council.

The three-storey building at 21 High Street, Wellingborough will be transformed into six one-bed apartments inside the property.

A new detached two-storey unit to the rear of the existing house will also be built to create an additional two flats on the premises.

The listed building, in Wellingborough High Street, has remained vacant in recent years.Credit: Google

A total of eight parking spaces will also be provided for tenants.

The site contains the grade II listed building and lies within the Wellingborough Town Centre Conservation Area.

It used to house local construction firm Kightley Building Contractors and also served as former Wellingborough MP Peter Bone’s office from his appointment in 2005 up until he moved to a new building in Midland Road.

He was later ousted in December 2023 after an investigation by Parliament’s behaviour watchdog found he broke sexual misconduct rules and bullied a junior staff member.

The resident parking and additional building would be located at the rear of the property, off St Johns St.
(Credit: Google) — The resident parking and additional building would be located at the rear of the property, off St Johns St. (Credit: Google)

Mr Bone has denied all allegations.

Two objections were submitted from the public to North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) from neighbouring buildings, raising accessibility and maintenance, privacy and noise disturbance concerns.

Applicant Mr D Kightley wrote in the design and access statement: “Given the building has been rather crudely refurbished in its more recent history, and now is by and large void of architectural merit that contributes to any real sense of character, it is accepted that any conversion would remove most of the poor quality and or functional work.

“The property is in poor decorative and badly maintained order, both externally and internally.

Google Maps image from 2019, showing the building being used as Peter Bone's constituency office.
(Credit: Google) — Google Maps image from 2019, showing the building being used as Peter Bone's constituency office. (Credit: Google)

"This takes a valuable building and returns it to former glory, with investment in enhancement, maintenance and improvement in its physical appearance.”

The council’s planning officers wrote that the redevelopment would result in the reuse of a currently vacant building and, given the conversion of the existing building is predominantly internal, it would not be harmful to the appearance or character of the host building or the surrounding area.

Plans were approved by NNC on March 25, subject to conditions.

Former office of Peter Bone in Wellingborough to be converted to flats