AN AMBITIOUS scheme to boost town centre housing has been given the green light by town planners.

Bulldozers are poised to move in on the former Royal Mail sorting office building in Palmyra Square, converting the site to a five-storey block containing 48 apartments. The development is seen as the "missing tooth" between the former post office building on Springfield Street and Holly House and is expected to enhance the urban nature of the square. Apartments will be made from red and brown brick and slate which will have strong links with the former building and will compliment the Post Office and Holly House buildings. Neighbours raised concerns about the development which they believe will overshadow their properties and gardens, and fear will be out of keeping with surrounding buildings. But they have accepted that a purposeful development on the site is vital.

Planners believe the proposed developent will make a positive contribution to the conservation area and compliment the listed buildings. Now planning permission has been granted, planners hope the scheme will encourage ideas for the re-use of the Post Office building.