'Dilapidated' court to be transformed into flats

The plans will see the building converted into 14 flats

Plans to partly demolish a "dilapidated" courthouse to transform it into 14 flats have been approved.

The Kettering County Court building on Dryland Street has been boarded up and is in need of restoration.

While most of the property will be preserved, a single-storey annexe will be demolished to make way for a three-storey extension rebuild.

James Towns, Green Party councillor, said: "I'm happy that it's going to be residential use as well - we need more people in the town centre to improve the environment there and encourage more businesses with the service of local residents."

According to the council, while it has sat unused the building has been subject to vandalism over a number of decades.

The court was one of 86 courts which closed in 2016 in a move the Ministry of Justice believed would save £500m a year and be more efficient.

Once construction work is complete, the building will have 12 two-bedroom and two, three-bedroom flats with seven parking spaces provided.

At a planning meeting discussing the application on Wednesday, Mr Towns, said: "It's going to put the building back into use rather than it being at risk of potential break-ins, any vandalism, and squatting."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), said the development is not financially viable to deliver S106 agreements, which are usually put in place to offer contributions to the community.