A PLANNING application to convert a former newspaper office into shared accommodation and a commercial unit has been given permission.

The three-storey corner building on Hardshaw Street in the town centre, which was formerly used by the Star, has been empty since 2015.

It was purchased for £166,000 via auction on Sutton Kersh by property developers A Space called Home in December 2017.

The developers say they are seeking to use the building for shared accommodation on the upper floors and a commercial unit on the ground floor.

Proposals stated: "The client believes in a single-minded and heartfelt purpose: to ensure that local residents have good quality accommodation and the choice of where they live.

"The client is determined to create continual improvement in the local area and provide good quality housing whilst maintaining the aesthetic of the original building".

A planning officer's report said that the "proposed development would be in keeping with the character of the Victoria Conservation Area".