PROPOSALS for a well known building in Launceston to be converted into residential accommodation has been submitted to Cornwall Council.

Lamisell Ltd Directors Pension Fund has applied to the authority seeking clarification on whether ‘prior approval’ is required to convert the National School Centre on St Thomas Road in Launceston from offices to four residential apartments.

The proposals could see the building turned into one one-bedroom apartment and three two-bedroom apartments.

There would be no impact on the conservation area that the National School Centre fits in as all the works to convert the building into the four apartments would be conducted internally with the external façade remaining the same.

In 2015, there had been an application to change the use of the land used as an ‘unused’ car parking area to residential development land to incorporate the construction of four town houses was withdrawn.

Prior to its withdrawal, that particular proposal attracted 48 objections.

The building had been offered at auction in late 2025.

A prior approval application seeks a response from Cornwall Council as to whether planning permission is required for the plans, or whether the conversion of the building can be undertaken under ‘permitted development’ rules, which would not require a planning application.

If planning permission is required, it would have to form a separate application which would be later considered by Cornwall Council.

In the application, the planning agent for Lamisell Ltd Directors Pension Fund stated: “The Old National School is located in Launceston. It fronts onto St Thomas Road and is accessed off Wooda Lane.

“The existing offices will be converted into 4 residential apartments with associated bin stores and bike storage. The apartments will consist of one one bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The plans can be viewed on the Cornwall Council planning portal using reference PA26/04635.