A £1.4m office block in Huntingdon, until recently an administration centre for Royal Papworth hospital, could be converted to 24 one-bedroom flats. The NHS Trust’s lease expired a year ago and agreement was reached for the team based at Justinian House at 10 Spitfire Close to move two miles away to share office space at Kingfisher House with the Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust.
“Retaining a facility in Huntingdon was very important for the staff based there,” Eilish Midlane, Royal Papworth chief executive reported earlier this year to governors.
Dinora Homes Ltd of Essex has submitted an application to Huntingdonshire District Council to convert the building to flats.
“A residential scheme of one-bedroom flats will generate less traffic movement than the current office usage,” director Robert Crow of Hemingford Grey told the council in his application.
“There are 46 parking spaces currently provided on site including disabled and visitor spaces, which will easily provide for the parking demands of a residential scheme.
“The site has a bus stop just outside the development and cycle parking will be provided on site.
“The site is also within walking distance to Huntingdon Town Centre. It is therefore anticipated that the residential proposal will in fact reduce the impact on local traffic.”
Auction records show Justinian House, which is on Ermine Business Park, was sold in April 2018 for £1,460,000.
At the time of going to auction, bidders were told the entire property was let to Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for a term of 5 years and 7 days from 18th December 2017 at a rent of £128,240 per annum.
Across both floors Justinian House measures some 13,362 square feet.
