A HISTORIC town building is set to be converted into “much-needed” flats.

Planning permission has been given for the former Halstead Union building – called Bartholomew House – to be converted into five flats.

The application was approved at a Braintree Council planning meeting on Tuesday, when councillors unanimously voted in favour of the conversion.

The building, on Colchester Road, was built in 1923 and is close to the town centre.

There are set to be two one-bedroom flats and three two-bedroom flats in the former ambulance offices, as well as six car parking spaces and an area for cycle parking.

Halstead councillor Steven Charles Kirby said he had no objections to the application.

At a Braintree Council planning meeting he said: “It’s an ideal use for the building.”

Mr Kirby knows the area well, telling councillors at the meeting he drives past the location a number of times each day.

Francesco Ricci, councillor for Great Notley and Black Notley, also voiced his approval of the plans at the meeting.

He said: “It’s a really good use of an old building providing much needed housing in the Halstead area.”

The conversion of the building is set to be achieved with minimal external alteration to retain the character and appearance of the almost 100-year-old building.

The application follows an unsuccessful attempt to sell the property.

Bartholomew House was put on the market for £575,000 last year and came with planning permission to convert it into a single home.

When no buyers came forward, owner Dena Leek submitted a planning application to turn the historic brick building into flats.