Plans to turn an office block into flats look set to be given the green light, despite an objection from Frome Town Council.

Somerset Council will next week consider an application to repurpose the grade II listed building on Bath Street, with a report recommending the scheme be given the green light.

Plans state the building was vacated by St John's Ambulance which decided to move "because of the access stairs to both entrances creating difficulties".

The building - known as Church Hill House - was then put on the market in late 2022 and remained unsold after an auction in December that year.

It was then bought by the applicant in July 2023, who now wants to turn it into five flats - including a mixture of one and two-bed properties.

The creation of flat five will require the existing loft space to be converted.

"The loss of the commercial area is not of a concern due to the buildings particular location," the application explains.

"It is generally acceptable for town centre location buildings to have residential use on the upper floors. Ground floors within the primary and secondary frontages have the protection to retain their retail or commercial based use to ensure a town's vibrancy, character and active locations, attracting foot fall to the town, where goods and services are to be expected."

However, Frome Town Council has raised a number of concerns saying the proposal does not "adequately meet" the need for more flats in the town centre.

Other issues around the lack of fire escape for flat five, cycle storage and parking.

Despite this, council planners have recommended the scheme be granted planning permission.

"The marketing carried out provides the council with some understanding of the current commercial premises market within the area and it is clear that the need for office accommodation within the area has significantly diminished with the advent of hybrid working i.e. hot-desking and more employees working from home on a permanent basis, before and since the pandemic," Somerset Council's report said.

It added; "It is considered that the benefits of bringing the premises forward for a purely residential use will in this case, outweigh the relatively limited harm with respect to the loss of employment floorspace in the area."

Councillors will make a decision at next Tuesday's (May 4) planning meeting.

See the full report here.