A derelict former bank in Nottinghamshire will be turned into an office and apartments as part of council plans to breathe new life back into the town centre.
The former Yorkshire Bank building, on Low Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield has been closed since the company announced a raft of branch closures in 2019.
But now the site will be transformed as Ashfield District Council approved plans to turn the ground floor into a modern, town centre office.
The upper floor will then be converted into two two-bedroom apartments in the heart of the town, with the new homes welcomed by councillors on the authority’s planning committee.
It comes as part of the council’s Future High Streets Fund spending, with the authority given £6.27 million by the Government to improve parts of Sutton-in-Ashfield’s high street.
Numerous derelict buildings on Low Street and other parts of the town will be brought back into use, with similar plans outlined for the former YMCA building nearby.
The council is also working with Sutton Academy to create a new town centre theatre venue and plans to create a pop-up food area and car park on Fox Street.
It forms part of a wider plan for the town which will act as a ‘gateway’, with council leaders hoping to bring more people into the town centre both during the day and in the evenings.
The redevelopment of the former bank was first outlined in September last year as part of wider plans to “transform Ashfield for generations to come”.
Now councillors have unanimously granted planning permission after the authority’s planning committee met on Wednesday (March 16).
Speaking in the meeting, Councillor Arnie Hankin (Ash Ind), chairman of the council, said: “I think office space will hopefully bring new jobs and the two flats will add to the council’s housing stock.
“This is fantastic news, as we all know we’re very short and some properties have hundreds of applicants – so I welcome any new housing.
“With the office space below it will encourage industry, entrepreneurialism, and I think that’s very good for the district.”
Cllr Samantha Deakin (Ash Ind), who represents Central Sutton and New Cross, also welcomed the redevelopment.
She said: “I’m quite excited to see it come together and go back to being a useful building, rather than being an eyesore slap bang in the town.
“I’m very much in favour of approving this.”
Councillors were told the building will be extended slightly to the rear, with new frontage to be installed on the derelict former bank.
The two apartments will not have access to car parking given its town centre location, but there is a privately-owned car park near the building where the residents could “potentially” reach an agreement with the landowner.
