A former Salvation Army citadel in Camborne could become homes. 

The building on Vyvyan Street, which was built in 1890, could be converted into residential apartments and a shared house of multiple occupation (HMO) after a pre-planning application was submitted to Cornwall Council. 

The building was recently purchased by applicant Elliot Thipthorp with a view to converting the property for residential use and to safeguard its future after it fell into disuse and now lies empty. 

The property is in the centre of Camborne, close to the main shopping centre. Vyvyan Street backs onto the rear of Trelowarren Street and consists primarily of long rows of two-storey residential properties.  

The former citadel, which was also the headquarters for the local Liberal Party from the 1970s, stands as a “significant intervention in the midst of these dwellings.” 

Tony Martin, the director of Transposition Architects Limited and Access, said: “The property lies within the Camborne Town Centre Conservation Area as an individual, Victorian-era building which is not Listed; it is acknowledged however to make an aesthetic contribution to the external street scene and roofscape of the Conservation Area.  

“This application proposal is for internal alterations, to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the generous volumetric capacity of the building to form three residential apartments (C3(a)) and two small houses of multiple occupation (HMO)(C4) to enable the property to both provide much needed private residential accommodation and continue its role in providing a social use to accommodate single-person households.  

“There are minimal alterations to the external appearance, and the changes to the fenestration will maintain the existing style. There is no change to the roofscape of the building.  

“Following the assessment guidance in the English Heritage Document “Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance” (2008), the heritage impact will be minimal; those of minimal evidential value will be reserved, as will the more significant aesthetic values as the external enveloped will not be altered. 

“The amenity, functionality and economical value of the property will be enhanced due to the change of use – thus safeguarding its future.  

“In summary, there is no detrimental impact or danger to the Camborne Town Centre Conservation Area, nor the Mining World Heritage Site; we consider the proposed change of use is appropriate to the town centre location, and the proposed works will preserve this iconic building, its setting and any aesthetic features of architectural and historic interest which it possess.  

“We consider the proposal accords with the requirements of the Cornwall Local Plan Policy 24 (Historic Environment) and to that end the council should reasonably grant planning permission for the works.”