Vacant offices in an historic town centre building will be brought back into use as 12 flats.

Councillors have approved the plans to convert most of the Grade II listed 31 and 31A Ironmarket, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The oldest parts of the building date back to the early 19th century, and while the ground floor is being used as offices, the first and second storeys are now mostly empty.

Under the plans submitted by Sheer Ironmarket Ltd, internal changes will be carried out to create 10 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments, while most of the ground floor would be retained for commercial use.

Planning committee members at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council voted unanimously to approve the application, in line with their officers' recommendation.

Officers said the scheme represents 'a highly sustainable form of development that would add to the vitality and vibrancy of the town centre', while safeguarding the long-term future of a listed building.

In addition to the internal changes, there will be 'limited' external alterations, including the creation of two new side windows.

The plans originally included proposals for new gates and railings at the front entrance to 31 Ironmarket, but these were removed after officers raised concerns.

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A planning condition will require the applicant to provide details on any new proposals to secure the entrance before carrying out any work, which may also require listed building consent.

Councillors expressed concern that new national planning regulations mean any such proposals will not come back to the committee for a decision. But they were otherwise content with the plans.

Councillor Mark Holland said: "It will be good to see the building brought back into use. I am sort of disappointed from a policy perspective that we don't seem, as a town centre, to be able to sustain the existing commercial use of the whole building.

"If you can't sustain that type of use in the town centre, where can you? On the other hand, more people living in the town centre is more users for the facilities here."

The development will see 12 off-street parking spaces retained for residents.

A section 106 agreement will require the developer to make a contribution of £60,445 towards public open space improvements.