A TOWN centre office building that was recently vacated by a long standing local business can be converted into 16 apartments.

Bagnalls, a painting and decorating business, recently relocated its headquarters from Manor Lane in Shipley to Cleckheaton.

This summer an application to convert the building into flats was submitted to Bradford Council by Arrow House (Shipley) Ltd.

It was not a planning permission but a notification that the work would be carried out under permitted development. The rule – introduced by the Conservative Government, allows developers to convert empty office space into residential use without the need for planning permission.

Local planning authorities can only block the plans if they raise serious highways or environmental health concerns.

The applicants pointed out that the town centre location, a short distance from a rail station and bus stops, meant there was less of a need for off street parking.

And planners said: “The proposed apartments generally meet the minimum standard of accommodation, some are slightly larger.”

Planners acknowledged that planning permission was not required for the work.