PLANS to transform ten offices and convert them into apartments in the centre of Yate have been approved.

The proposals submitted to South Gloucestershire Council in May - includes creating ten new flats located on the upper floors of West Walk at the town's shopping centre.

The scheme - which is located on the first and second floor between 11 to 19 West Walk - includes creating six one-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom flats and two three-bedroom flats.

According to the change of use planning application, the ground floor units will be kept as a commercial usage.

One member of the public submitted a comment of support in favour of the plan saying that the scheme was a "good idea".

The plans also include installing a new bin and cycle storage area, however it does not include any new parking spaces.

The application was submitted by Williams Gallagher on behalf of applicant Yate Trustee 1 Limited and Yate Trustee 2 Limited.

A planning document reads: "The site is located within the 'precinct' area of the shopping centre which features an array of commercial uses at ground floor (primarily retail).

"The plans would result in the diversification of uses across the centre which will be beneficial to the vitality and viability of the town centre as a whole.

"The upper floors in this area are predominantly in use as either storage or office interspersed with some residential use.

"The site comprises the upper levels (first and second floor) of Units 11-19 (odd only) West Walk, access to which is via a dedicated staircase entrance at 19 West Walk."

It continues: "The site's town centre location also provides doorstep access to shops, restaurants/ bars, leisure, and employment provision, therefore reducing the requirement of a car to carry out daily/weekly/monthly activities.

"As such, no new car parking is proposed as the site's location provides for the lowest level of need to travel.

"The site can be safely accessed on foot and at all hours via the pedestrianised area of West Walk.

"It is proposed that the site be converted to 10 apartments all of which will be of a size that exceed Nationally Described Space Standards.

"This will be achieved through internal reconfiguration - no external alterations are proposed.

"The site has been in use as offices for over ten years and is thus regarded as comprising an E Class Use.

"The planning history for the site shows that there have been no changes of use away from Use Class E within this period.

"For the avoidance of doubt the ground floor units will remain in Use Class E use."

The application was approved by SGC on July 10.

You can view the application quoting P24/01089/PNMD or see here - tinyurl.com/47w66yem