PLANNING permission has been given to turn a historic town-centre building back into a four-bedroom home after being used as an office.

Richard Williams sought planning permission and listed building consent in May to convert Windsor House in St Mary’s Street, Ross-on-Wye, a three-storey, early 19th-century, partly listed building.

It was last used by surveyors and auctioneers RG & RB Williams, who have since moved to the town’s auction centre by the Over Ross roundabout.

Under his proposal for change of use, there were to be no external adaptions to the building.

However Inside new stud walls would be used to create en-suite bathrooms to two of the three bedrooms on the first floor, with a further bedroom and study occupying the second floor.

Attempts last year to sell the property for commercial use, at a guide price of £275,000, ‘drew no interest whatsoever’, according to a marketing report accompanying the application, which said its continued use as an office was unviable.

There were no objections from specialist consultees, the town council or the public.

Planning officer Tracey Meachen said: “The proposal to change to residential is compatible with adjacent and nearby buildings that have had a similar change of use application approved.

“Its proposed new use is likely to lead to a lower number of car journeys than office use”.