A TOWN centre building is closer to gaining its new lease of life.

The Grade II Listed Highwood House in Liskeard has been a townhouse, a school, and a shopping arcade in its time, but it’s been empty for around five years.

Now, owner Hella Tovar has gained planning permission to convert the ground and first floor into a mixed use flexible community space, and to refurbish flats on the first and second floors.

The ground floor will feature a bar, with the possibility of retail, and food and drink provision.

A spiral staircase will lead to an open mezzanine area on the second floor – completely transforming the current partitioned look of the building’s interior.

Modern extensions at the rear of the building will be knocked down – but the property’s historic frontage will be maintained.

Planning officer George Shirley says that there’s not as yet a definite proposed use for the building, but that “the applicant has a desire to provide a modern, welcoming, fit-for-purpose, well-lit, aspirational, adaptable space”.

The Local Planning Authority had some concerns that the project was “a somewhat aspirational proposal which may be difficult to achieve in reality, despite having the best intentions for the town centre”.

But it said: “Nonetheless, it is clear there is a push for town centres to be more flexible, particularly with the introduction of the more flexible ‘E use class’ from the government, which allows greater range of uses as an encompassing ‘commercial, business and service uses’ class.

“The applicant would feasibly be able to use the premises for any of the uses within ‘E’ without consent – it is the mixed use, along with the community uses, which require planning permission.

“Overall, it is considered that the proposal would result in a positive impact to the Conservation Area, as it refurbishes a prominent listed building on the main high street in a sensitive manner.”

Although Liskeard Town Council’s planning committee expressed concerns over a “lack of symmetry in the proposed design of the lower floor frontage”, the Council supported the application.

The refurbishment, and hopefully eventual reopening of Highwood House is one of several recent developments breathing new life into Liskeard town centre.

The former Carlton Suite nightclub on The Parade, empty for around a year and at one point destined for flats, reopened in May as The Social and is offering a popular venue through the weeknights and weekend for live music, comedy, food, cocktails, and daytime socialising.

Meanwhile, just down the road, the listed Westbourne House is now the home of broadband provider Wildanet, who have begun work to improve the interior of the building for modern working practice while respecting its historic features.