Plans to convert an historic former mill into 17 apartments are set to be approved by councillors – despite objections from a number of Leek residents.

The Grade II Listed Well Street Mill, near Leek town centre, dates back to around 1865 and has previously been used to provide accommodation for Alton Towers workers.

In 2018 Staffordshire Moorlands District Council granted permission for the four-storey building on the site to be converted into 12 apartments and the two-storey "annex" building to be demolished. This development did not take place however.

The latest proposals for the site would see the two buildings converted into 17 flats. There would be 10 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units and a studio flat.

A report to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's planning committee said: "The link section would be replaced and an external metal fire escape structure would be removed but the only other external works to the buildings are the repair to the existing original cast iron and modern mild steel windows and the external doors.

"Most of the new works appear to involve the internal subdivision of the large open plan floor spaces creating a similar layout on all floors and the removal of an internal lift-shaft.

"Although the site plan and location plans show a car parking area with six spaces within the red line site boundary, the application states there is no on-site car parking available; the drawings show 20 cycle parking spaces would be provided adjacent to the south elevation of the two-storey building.

"Clarification was later received that the parking area with six bays would be allocated for the proposed flats on a lease basis."

The application has been recommended for approval by council officers ahead of a planning committee on Thursday (January 22). It has been referred to the committee for consideration "because a significant number of objections have been received from local residents", the report said.

It added: "Letters of objection have been received from eight people, seven of which are local residents. Most of the letters raise a main concern over the lack of parking and that the scheme would exacerbate parking problems in the area.

"Some of the letters raise that the increased numbers of parked cars would harm the setting of the Listed buildings and the Conservation Area and that public transport is insufficient to encourage new residents to not travel by car.

"One letter raised concerns over the impact on bats using the site and considers Ecology and Bat Reports should be submitted for assessment."