Plan to turn more of empty town centre offices into flats

Fresh plans have been submitted to turn part of a town centre office building into three flats weeks after similar plans were approved for its upper floor.

South Norfolk Council approved converting the second-floor of Navire House, located on the junction of Mere Street and Park Road in Diss, into two apartments and changing its use from office to residential.

Now developers have applied to also change the use for the lower floor and convert the empty office space into three two bedroom flats.

The ground floor of the building is occupied, but the upper floor offices in the modern three-storey building, on the edge of the town's conservation area, remain empty despite having until recently been advertised for rent.

Diss Town Council has supported the planned changes.

Eric Taylor, chairman of the council's planning subcommittee, said: "Diss Town Council's policy in recent times has been to support applications for apartments on the first floor; usually they have been used for storage over retail outlets.

"This policy makes best use of the properties and adds vibrancy to the area with more people living in the town centre."