PLANS for new flats on one of Bridgwater’s main thoroughfares have been approved – in less than 20 minutes.

Developer 130 Taunton Road Ltd. applied to convert the existing offices and nursery at the eponymous address in Bridgwater town centre into ten flats.

Sedgemoor District Council’s development committee met in Bridgwater on Thursday morning (February 10) to discuss the proposals following Somerset County Council’s recent decision to sell off the property.

It took the committee just over a quarter of an hour to unanimously approve both the conversion plans and the listed building consent need to alter the grade two listed structure.

130 Taunton Road is a large semi-detached property on the corner of the busy A38 and Rhode Lane, with access being from the latter.

The new flats will each have one bedroom and will be marketed at “short- and longer-stay clients who need accommodation in connection with their employment away from home.”

The developer will keep a register of guests to ensure the flats continue to be used for this purpose for as long as the building is in operation.

Councillor Kathy Pearce – whose Bridgwater Westover ward includes the site – said: “It will be good to have this building back in use.

“It’s a shame it’s not being developed to accommodate people on the housing register at the moment, but we have to look at what’s in front of us.”

Following the committee’s approval, work on the internal alterations to the property is expected to begin later in the year.