PLANS for a massive overhaul of one of Bridge Street’s most historic buildings have been given the go ahead.

The former Nobles Amusements and JJB Sports units have laid vacant for at least a decade.

But an application for planning permission which seeks to turn the ground floor into a restaurant and create apartments in the upper three floors has now been approved by Warrington Borough Council.

These proposals have been amended from an earlier submission, which sought to create four new retail units inside the address.

It is understood that an ‘end user has now been identified’ to fill the grade two-listed Victorian building, resulting in the altered plans – which also feature 10 one and two-bedroom flats.

A new shopfront will replace the existing one, which has been left in a poor condition, while an outdoor space will be covered by a retractable canopy.

Application documents stated: "The exterior of the front facade has changed very little over the many years of existence, which is something key to the proposals and is a feature that will be retained where possible as part of the proposed development.

"This proposal is for the comprehensive and coherent re-development of an existing vacant building on a key site in Warrington town centre.

"Careful consideration has been given in determining an appropriate layout while keeping the overall massing and design of the existing building."

A £4 million scheme to regenerate the historic building in 2003, which was previously home to household names such as Wimpy and Army and Navy, was never carried out and it has fallen into disrepair since.

But the latest development was approved by WBC on Thursday, June 10.