AN APPLICATION to convert a retail unit into six flats in Cirencester was given the thumbs up at Cotswold District Council’s planning committee today (Wednesday).

Steve Wicks put in an application to covert Silcox and Wix on Cricklade Street into six self contained residential flats.

"I traded there for three years and realised in-store business was not good," he said. "People don't walk all the way down the end of Circklade Street anymore so I decided to think about different ideas."

Cllr Margaret Rickman said she did not agree with the layout of the flats.

"Personally I don't like it. In Flat 5 there seems to be only one window and it looks like you enter the flats via the bedroom which seems very strange," she said.

Cllr Carole Topple said she was not against the application but asked if something could be done about the ground floor outside appearance of the building.

"It doesn't look attractive as a street scene," she said.

Cirencester Town Council had objected to the proposal due to lack of detailed information of change of use from business to residential and concerns about off-street parking.

However the planning officer said it was a “sustainable form of development”.

The application was approved with nine votes to four.