A bid to create a penthouse apartment above a Cromer shop unit has been granted permission.

The penthouse is included in an application to create five apartments above the former Shoezone store in Church Street.

North Norfolk District Council approved the development of two single bedroom apartments, a single bedroom duplex, one two-bedroom apartment, and a three-bedroom “penthouse” top floor apartment.

The ground floor will remain a retail space, with permission for alterations to be made.

Concerns were raised about what would become of the empty space after the shop below the proposed development announced its closure last year.

The council is hoping that a refurbishment will bring more confidence in the commercial space. 

According to a planning document, "the landlord has explored all other commercial uses and the only viable means of bringing the full building back into use and save the building from falling into disrepair is residential use".

Council leader Tim Adams said: "This is a very welcome development, with new units of residential accommodation in void spaces above shops something we wish to see more of in towns across the District. 

"The development will hopefully lay the path to this retail space coming back into some alternative commercial use."

The shop below was previously a shoezoneThe shop below was previously a Shoezone (Image: Adam Barker)

The original late 19th century four-storey building was extended and converted in 1961.

At this point, surveyors believe the use of the building changed and the upper floors became used as storage space, rather than living spaces.

According to a planning document, the applicant has several properties along Church Street, including apartments above 55-57.

The application follows a recent trend for similar developments with an application also submitted on the adjacent site to the rear for nine more flats.