A Grade II-listed office building in Old Town's High Street can be converted into 20 flats.

Outside Clinic, which has been using the two buildings, formerly a Barclays Bank,  at 10-14 High Street initially wanted to turn the upper two storeys into 15 flats in 2022 – but was refused prior approval, because it had failed to demonstrate the building had been empty for at least three months.

Earlier this year it brought back a more extensive application to convert the ground floor into apartments as well to bring up the total to 20.

And that has been given the go-ahead by borough council planners.

The submitted plans show there would be four one-bed flats and a studio apartment on the ground floor as well as cycle storage.

The rest of the apartments, five on each of the first and second floors would also have one bedroom each.

Planners at the council, after seeing revised plans addressing their initial concerns, said: “In conclusion, the loss of the commercial use at ground, first and second floor levels in this location is not restricted by any planning policies and the change of use to residential is acceptable in planning terms.

The proposals would result in the addition of 20 new homes within a highly sustainable location, which would contribute to housing supply and meeting housing targets for the borough.”