A basement store and office in a coastal town centre is set to be converted into a new flat after plans were given the go-ahead.

It comes after an application centring around "Conversion of basement store and ground floor office to a one bedroom self-contained flat" at 136 London Road North in Lowestoft was approved.

The plans submitted by agents GP Architectural Services on behalf of the applicant Romain Robert for CMC East Anglia Ltd were lodged with East Suffolk Council in April and "permitted" under delegated powers last week.

With the building's basement store and ground floor office site area measuring 70sq m, a delegated report from the council's case officer said: "The site comprises the basement floor of a four storey mid terrace building.

"The ground floor unit comprises a retail unit facing west onto London Road North."

With the ground floor unit forming part of shopping frontages and there being no frontage to the basement unit, the delegated report said "officers do not consider its loss to residential would have any harm on the vitality and viability of the town centre."

It adds that the external alterations proposed for the self-contained flat "would not be seen from the public realm," so it is not believed there would be any "adverse impacts" on the character and appearance of the area.

The delegated report adds that most rooms in the property would have openings that provide natural light, and while the development would be compact officers said there would be sufficient space for occupants.

It is considered the development provides "adequate amenity value for future residents," the report said.

With no objections or no third party representations, it concludes: "The principle and detail of the development is considered to be acceptable and in compliance with relevant development plan policies"

A decision notice letter stated: "Permission is hereby granted by East Suffolk Council subject to conditions."