Planning permission has been granted for a Grade-II Listed city centre building to be converted into a six-bed HMO.

A House of Multiple Occupancy, or HMO as they are also known, is a property let to three or more unrelated residents.

They are popular among young professionals who may be unable to afford to live alone and university students once they leave on-campus accommodation.

The building is located next to Pret A Manger

The building on Cheap Street has been used as retail and office space since the late 20th century and the ground floor will continue to be used as a shop.

Bath-based Aequus Development LTD has now been given the go-ahead to convert the second and third floors, which were previously used as storage space, into a six-bed House of Multiple Occupancy.

The ground floor will be used as a shop

The site, next to Pret A Manger on Stall Street, had previously been given permission to be converted into an eight-bed property, but the number of bedrooms has now been reduced to six.

Council planning officer Mark Reynolds granted permission on October 4. However, the owner will still need to obtain a HMO licence from the council.