A FORMER Peebles restaurant looks set to be turned into flats after the council granted planning permission.

The Bridgegate site had formerly been the home of The Sunflower Restaurant.

However, the building looks set to be turned into two one-bedroom flats after plans were approved by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) officers last week.

In a report outlining the application’s approval, SBC planning officer Ranald Dods states: “Bridgegate is predominantly residential along its length and the proposed development will be compatible with this.

"Although the loss of a commercial unit is regrettable, the change of use of this unit from Class 3 to 2 flats will not be detrimental to the street and the use is appropriate in the town centre.”

In order to “safeguard the character and appearance of the conservation area”, a number of conditions have been issued alongside the approval.

According to the conditions, the front elevation at ground floor level shall be retained as natural sandstone.

Meanwhile, all windows “shall be white in external colour, of the glazing pattern and type illustrated on the approved drawing and the astragals (where shown) shall be fitted externally to the glass”.

The final condition is that the bins for the flats will only be kept in the storage areas illustrated in the plans.