PLANNERS have given the green light to a proposal to convert an empty town centre store into two smaller shops and five bedsit flats.

A planning application to overhaul the layout of 117-119 Dalton Road was submitted back in May.

Just two months earlier, in March, Thomas Cook launched a redundancy consultation with 15 Co-operative Travel employees based at the premises after taking ownership of the rival brand.

At the time of the takeover, Thomas Cook vowed to re-brand all Co-op Travel outlets, but with one Thomas Cook branch just metres away the decision was made to close the Co-op unit.

Cheshire-based property investment firm Osborne House Ltd, which claims to "maximise inherent value" of premises, is behind the conversion development for the building, which has now been granted approval by Barrow Borough Council.

The ground floor will be made up of two small shops to the front with shared toilet and kitchen facilities; a one-bedroom studio at the rear of the ground floor; and four one-bedroom bedsits in the first floor.