NEW plans to develop an empty building on Bridge Street have been approved after the last ones were dubbed as 'poor standard' by planners.

Developers can convert an empty shop in Warrington town centre into three apartments above the empty salon on Lower Bridge Street.

The ground floor will be renovated and kept for retail.

A previous scheme was turned down earlier this year for four apartments due to worries over the 'poor standard of amenity'.

Planning documents state: "The completed project would provide high quality town centre residential accommodation while retaining and improving existing ground floor retail provision.

"This would restore a vacant town centre building to long term sustainable use and consequently improve the overall environment within and around the Bridge Street Conservation Area."

In their judgement on the previous application, planners said: "The development would result in a poor standard of amenity for the future occupiers of the application site due to the substandard size of the units, a poor outlook and an awkward and poorly sited access

"Also insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the future occupiers of the application site would be protected from significant noise levels."