An East Midlands property investor, which has pledged to revive the country’s high streets, has been granted planning permission to convert the top two floors of a former job centre in Burton on Trent.

This first phase of the project will create 25 apartments with the intention of a secondary application to convert the remainder of the building into apartments.

ALB Group targeted Burton’s town centre as the next location on its regeneration mission. Crown House in New Street has now been granted planning permission for part. When the first phase refurbishment of the high-profile building is complete, it will be transformed into much needed one- and two-bedroom apartments for the local community.

Arran Bailey, managing director at ALB Group, said:

“This will be our second project in the town this year and we are excited to bring it to fruition."

"The former Job Centre building has stood empty for a few years now - no-one wants to see empty buildings in their town. Our ethos is to revive the country's high streets through the regeneration of high-profile buildings. We have spent the last year looking at the site and working out what the community needs and how we can best transform the building.”

ALB is a leading property investment and lettings company with a property portfolio of over £50m.

The Nottinghamshire headquartered developer purchased and completed the acquisition of the 55,000 sq. ft building on Friday, December 1. It comes on the back of the firm’s 10-apartment transformation of the space above Oxfam/Peacocks in the town.

Work on the former job centre site had already begun under permitted development rights with the top two floors refurbished to provide 25 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The full application for the remaining floors, which is intended to create an additional 50 apartments, will be put forward to the council later.

Ed Hall, JV Partner with ALB is spearheading the project, and said:

“Once complete, the converted high-end apartments will have appeal across the board but particularly to professionals and first-time buyers."

"In addition, the ground floor of the building will be transformed into an amenity space for a residents’ gym and other facilities.”

He added: “The appeal of Burton on Trent is self-evident. It is a great commuter town with good access to the M1, Birmingham, Derby and Nottingham. There are already lots of industry and developments taking place in the area”.

ALB has championed improvements in town and city centres across the country with recent property purchases in Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Nottingham, Peterborough, Ipswich, Huddersfield and Birkenhead.

The firm’s flagship Bridlesmith Gate regeneration project in Arran Bailey’s hometown of Nottingham, saw great swathes of city centre buildings snapped up by the developer. Using a “rethink and revive” strategy, alongside commercial lease flexibility and affordable rents, areas of the city are now being reinvigorated and attracting niche, independent and national retailers.

Arran says that his forward-thinking strategy is a “win win” approach that has benefits for all. He said: “Our innovative strategy creates opportunities for business and communities.”