Fresh plans have been submitted to renovate a former NatWest bank, which would extend it and partially convert the site into housing.

The ex-bank building on Worplesdon Road, Guildford would be remodelled to house two commercial units and six new homes – comprising a mix of flats and two semi-detached houses.

According to the planning documents, the building has sat vacant since 2018 after Natwest closed its branch at the site.

A previous planning application was refused – and a subsequent appeal rejected – which would have seen nine residential units installed at the site.

“The new proposal will reduce the amount of units from nine to six and remove the building in between which will reduce the density of the site and ensure no overbearing or impact on adjacent properties in comparison to refused applications,” the documents read.

The previous application was submitted in 2022, and was rejected by Guildford Borough Council’s planning officers.

In their refusal, officers wrote: “The proposal would have a materially harmful impact in terms of overbearance on the neighbouring property Wood Court due to scale and mass of the proposed extended building in such close proximity.”

The Planning Inspectorate dismissed a subsequent appeal, citing among other factors the issue of “whether there would be sufficient space to park and turn vehicles so they could safely enter and exit the site in a forward gear”.

But the applicant now argues the fresh proposals should be permitted, saying they contribute “more into the variations of housing supply to meet national and local targets”.

“The proposal has less impact on its neighbouring properties in terms of overbearing, privacy and right of light,” they add.

Twelve off-street parking spaces would also be included in the proposals, and the applicant claims the site is well served by public transport.

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“The proposal is for one car parking space per unit for a site with a good accessibility to the town centre and the public transport system, with alternative cycle and car clubs options available which will help meet local and national goals towards more sustainable solutions,” the planning statement reads.