A plan to turn a prominent but disused building in a Herefordshire town into four flats can now go ahead.

Manbro Developments, which specialises in repurposing older buildings in the county, proposed converting the two-storey 38 Rowberry Street in Bromyard, previously offices and a joinery workshop.

It sought confirmation that it could do this under what are known as permitted development rights, which avoid the need for full planning permission. Herefordshire Council has now given this.

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Under the plan, all four flats will comprise an open-plan kitchen and living room, bedroom and bathroom, and will meet the national space standard minimum size.

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The two on the ground floor will share a front door, while another door onto the street will lead into a planned cycle and bin storage area.

Bromyard town council had claimed the plan fell outside of permitted development as the site lies within the catchment of the protected river Lugg.

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But planning officer Jack Dyer said this was “not correct” as rules around permitted development did “not preclude” the scheme for this or any other reason.

The county’s highways engineer commented that while lacking off-street parking, with their cycle storage the flats would be “located in a highly sustainable location within the town centre”.

With no objections to the proposal from officials or the public, it was granted prior approval on condition that the flats remain in residential use.