Key Points
- MJS Construction Ltd has submitted an application to Peterborough City Council to extend and convert Monkstone House into apartments.
- The four-storey office building on City Road could gain two additional floors if the proposal is approved.
- The scheme would create 65 residential apartments in total.
- The plan includes 22 apartments from the upward extension and 43 from converting the existing building.
- The proposed mix is 58 two-bedroom flats and seven one-bedroom units.
- The applicant says the project would make effective use of previously developed land in a highly sustainable city-centre location.
- A planning statement says the building would remain below 18 metres and would not exceed seven storeys.
- The site is in Flood Zone 1, which is classed as the lowest flood-risk area.
- The developer says the change from office to residential use is not expected to increase traffic generation.
- Secure and convenient cycle parking is included in the plans.
Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) July 04, 2026 – a four-storey office building in the uk/local/city-centre/">city centre could be extended upwards and converted into apartments if planning permission is granted. The proposal concerns Monkstone House on City Road, where MJS Construction Ltd wants to add two extra floors and rework the existing structure into residential use. The application would turn the building into 65 apartments, making it one of the more significant city-centre conversion proposals currently under consideration.
As reported in the planning material summarised by the Cambridge News, the scheme would deliver 22 apartments through the upward extension and another 43 through the conversion of the current building. The applicant describes Monkstone House as a “prestigious and prominent office building” in the heart of Peterborough’s commercial district, and argues that the site is well placed for housing because of its central location. The project is framed as a form of intensification rather than a wholesale redevelopment, since it would not alter the building footprint or access arrangements.
What would be built inside the extended block?
The plans show a largely two-bedroom-led scheme, with 58 two-bedroom apartments and seven one-bedroom units. That mix suggests the developer is targeting a broad residential market rather than a single narrow demographic, although the application itself does not go into detail about the intended tenants or buyers. The plans also include cycle parking for future residents, which the applicant says would provide secure and convenient storage.
The planning statement says the overall height would stay below 18 metres and the building would not exceed seven storeys. That detail matters because height, massing and visual impact are often central issues in town-centre redevelopment proposals. The application also says the scheme uses previously developed land, a point that planning officers often examine when weighing up whether a development is acceptable in an urban setting.
Why is the developer backing the scheme?
The applicant argues that the proposal would provide “well designed residential accommodation” in a “highly sustainable city-centre location”. That argument is based on the building’s existing urban setting, which offers access to services, jobs and transport links more easily than many out-of-centre sites. The developer also says the change from office use to housing would not be expected to increase traffic generation, suggesting the site may generate a different pattern of movement rather than a heavier overall demand.
The statement also presents the scheme as a positive contribution to housing delivery. By converting an existing office block rather than building on undeveloped land, the plan fits a wider planning approach that encourages higher-density use of suitable urban sites. The planning case is therefore built around reuse, sustainability and the claimed efficiency of adapting an existing building for homes.
What planning details matter most?
Flood risk is one of the more straightforward planning points in the application. The site is within Flood Zone 1, which is the lowest flood-risk category, and that generally makes a residential conversion easier to justify than if the site were in a higher-risk zone. The proposal also keeps to the existing access arrangements, which may reduce the extent of highway or infrastructure objections.
The height limit is another important detail because the building would remain below 18 metres even after the extension. In planning terms, that can help show the project is substantial but not extreme for a city-centre setting. The inclusion of cycle parking also reflects the current emphasis on lower-car development and sustainable travel in urban schemes.
What happens next in the planning process?
The application now sits with Peterborough City Council, which will decide whether the benefits claimed by the developer outweigh any concerns raised by planners, neighbours or other consultees. At this stage, the key questions are likely to be about design, scale, residential quality and how the change from office to housing affects the surrounding area. Council officers will also look at whether the proposal is consistent with local planning policy and national housing aims.
If approved, the scheme would move Monkstone House from a commercial office block into a residential development of 65 apartments. If refused, the applicant could revise the design or seek to appeal, depending on the reasons for any rejection. Either way, the proposal highlights the continuing pressure on city-centre buildings to adapt to changing demand for office and residential space.
Background of the development
Monkstone House is being presented as part of a wider pattern of office-to-residential conversion in urban centres, where older or underused commercial buildings are adapted rather than demolished. That approach is often used to bring more homes into central areas while limiting the need for new land take. In this case, the developer says the building is already prominent and well located, which strengthens the argument for reuse instead of replacement.
The proposal also fits a planning context in which local authorities are encouraged to support housing on previously developed land. City-centre sites are often favoured because they already have access to roads, public transport, utilities and nearby services. The planning statement’s emphasis on sustainability, minimal traffic change and cycle parking is consistent with that wider approach.
What is the likely impact on residents?
For people living or working near City Road, the main effect would be a change in how the building is used and, potentially, how busy the area becomes at different times of day. A residential scheme may reduce daytime office activity but increase evening and weekend presence. That can affect parking demand, local footfall and the character of the street.
For prospective residents, the proposal would add to the housing supply in Peterborough city centre, which may offer more choice close to shops and services. For the wider audience, the development is another example of how older office buildings are being repurposed to meet housing demand. The outcome may also influence future applications for similar buildings in the city, especially where applicants can show the site is sustainable, central and already developed.
