SECTIONS of a former town centre bank can be converted into housing, planners have agreed.

The Ilkley branch of NatWest closed in early 2023, and earlier this year a planning application to convert the building’s upper floors into flats was submitted to Bradford Council.

The plans, by Mark Robinson, would retain the ground floor space for commercial use with the upper floors a mix of one, two and three-bed flats.

Planning officers have approved the work, saying: “The site is located in an area which would be anticipated to naturally have a higher level of background noise than in a suburban area.

“However, it would not be anticipated to be harmful to intended occupiers.

“Future occupants would be acutely aware that they live in the centre of town.”