Plans to convert former Vodafone call centre on Brunel Drive, Newark, once home to Fleur de Lys Automobiles, to industrial use supported by Newark Town Council

Plans to return former a call centre to its original use as an industrial site have been supported by Newark Town Council.

Brunel House, on Brunel Drive, Newark, was occupied last by Vodafone and used as a call centre, but it was originally built as a factory for the assembly of motor vehicles by Fleur de Lys Automobiles.

Applicant DCS 452 Lrd, care of Rotherhill Developments, submitted the change-of-use application to Newark and Sherwood District Council aiming to return the site, which has been vacant for over a year, to industrial use.

Newark Town Council planning committee, a body consulted by the district council, raised no objections.

Committee member Barbara Corrigan said: “I don’t think it is a big enough building to generate a lot of traffic, If anything I think it will reduce traffic in the area because it would be done at peak times.

“Lorryies would come in and out all day whilst staff would go early in the morning and evenings.”

Plans for the change include the addition of four level access doors for loading and unloading and reconfiguration of the hard-surfaced carpark to include a service yard.

Windows and cladding are also planned to be replaced, while existing bike storage and bin storage will be retained.

The ground-floor layout will be altered to provide an industrial unit, and office partitioning will be removed from the first-floor mezzanine for use as a storage area, although the mezzanine may be reconfigured to suit an end user.

The application will be decided on the next District Council planning meeting.