Offices overlooking a town's harbour look set to be converted into new apartments after plans were given the green light.

New residential apartments are set to be unveiled at office space on the first and second floors of an historic building.

Plans will see existing offices overlooking Lowestoft's harbour and the trawl basin - not far away from the town centre - transformed.

A bid to convert the upper floors of Columbus House, in Waveney Road, Lowestoft, in to four flats was given the go-ahead by East Suffolk Council.

A scheme centring around "Conversion of existing office space on first and second floors into residential apartments" with "Office space at ground to remain" for Columbus House at 16 Waveney Road in Lowestoft saw "Prior Approval Granted" this week.

The prior notification proposals submitted by agents Ian Garrett Building Design Ltd on behalf of the applicant Ashley Hunn, for Boston Putford Offshore Safety Ltd, were lodged with East Suffolk Council in May.

A design and access statement from the applicants said: "The building will provide apartment accommodation for four dwellings."

With the existing site consisting of a ground, first and second storey building, office accommodation is said to "have operated for many years at this location with the applicants".

It added: "However they need to reduce the current office space to that to the direct east of the application site."

With prior approval granted for "Commercial to Dwelling", a delegated report from the council's case officer said: "The proposed flats would be located at first and second floor level, with ground floor retained as commercial offices/lobby.

"As this is not a planning application, representations from consultees do not trigger referral and decision making is delegated to the Head of Planning, Building Control and Coastal Management.

"It is recommended that prior approval is granted with conditions."

The historic building is understood to have been taken over by Boston Deep Sea Fisheries, part of Putfords, in the 1950s.

With Lowestoft Town Council recommending East Suffolk Council approve the plans, and with no objections nor third party representations received, a decision notice letter stated: "East Suffolk Council give notice that prior approval is required and hereby granted."