Plans to turn an iconic Cockermouth property into seven residential flats have been agreed.

A change of use application was submitted to transform the upper floors of the former HSBC building on Main Street from financial and professional into seven residential flats.

It was approved this week.

Robert Bateson, of Cambridgeshire, applied for permission to change the use of the building, create four residential units on the upper level and build and extension over the car park to create three more residential units.

Cockermouth Town Council called for the application to be refused. Councillors had no issues with the change of use but were opposed to the design of the extension in the conservation area and lack of parking.

When discussing the application, Councillor Alan Kennon said: “This is meant to be a heritage town, all the other roofs are slate peaked. I think this would look absolutely ridiculous and spoil the other skylines in the area.”