PLANS have been submitted to turn the former NatWest bank in Liskeard into eight apartments with a mix of one and two-bed units intended as starter homes for local people.

Mr and Mrs N Eadie, the new owners of the site, plan to create homes on the open market in Trehawke House, a three-storey, Grade II listed building on the corner of Dean Street and Windsor Place.

They do not plan to alter the building footprint and the main internal structural walls will remain with two new openings for single doorways. Larger spaces will be subdivided by timber partitions to form the cellular arrangements of the apartments.

The planning application says the owners are experienced business people with enterprises in Tavistock and Plymouth and are keen to be involved in the Liskeard community. They want feedback from locals to integrate their proposed improvements into the larger regeneration of the Cattle Market area.

Both Cornwall Council and Liskeard Town Council have shown support for the principal of the plans after pre-application submissions. This follows from full planning permission and listed building consent being granted for seven apartments and a retail unit earlier this year.

Plans for a small retail space are no longer included as the report says: ‘the market for commercial property has collapsed. This is supported by the lack of interest in the retail which generated a little interest 18 months ago but has had no enquiry since.’