Plans revealed for prominent town centre premises

absorb, the council launched a huge asset sale programme and put the prominent building, close to Wilko, up for sale.

It was earmarked for auction in early April with a guide price of £350,000.

Two months on and property developers appear to have acquired the premises and have quickly taken their first step at reviving the building.

They have submitted an application to convert the historic premises into 15 one bed apartments and a shop.

Documents show little will change to the exterior of the listed building other than a handful of new windows, thought to date from the early 1800s.

But inside, former court chambers will be transformed into new living spaces.

Plans show the developers believe they can fit three apartments and retail space on the ground floor, eight flats on the first floor and a further four on the second floor.

The developers say the main surviving internal features of historic interest, such as the building’s staircase and the ceiling to the former council chamber, can be retained.

A small communal outdoor space will be created to the rear of the building. The retail unit would front onto Princess Street. There has been no hint as to what kind of store it could be. It appears that no parking spaces are being created on the premises.

Applicant, a Mr Chan Khangura, says it is in the council’s interest to approve the application before the 200-year-old building falls into disrepair.

Public consultation on the proposal runs until June 18.