Seaside cafe and gallery to be converted into home

The Flowergate building will keep a window display of artwork

A seaside art gallery and cafe in a Grade II listed building is to be converted into a home.

The plans to turn the Art Cafe Contemporary Gallery in Whitby town centre into a flat and private art studio were approved by North Yorkshire Council on 11 February.

The application submitted by David Reece was supported by Whitby Town Council and conservation officers said they had no objections.

In the application, Mr Reece said: "We very much want to address the balance away from more and more holiday lets and to promote the town as a place to live and become net contributors to a local, more sustainable economy."

The building will be renamed Flowergate Gallery and will keep a ground floor shop window with a display of artwork "to preserve the commercial nature of Flowergate", the application said.

No external changes are proposed to the property, which is located close to Whitby Bridge over the River Esk, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Planning officers said the main issue was whether or not the proposed works would preserve the special interest of the listed building.

The application said a "significant brick-built extension" was constructed at the rear of the property in the 1970s and the alterations will be limited to the "re-constructed section of the building".

During a site visit, officers noted "much of the interior of the building is contemporary and does not include original features that would be affected by the proposal".

According to the plans, "very minimal" internal changes would "not impinge" on the listed status of the building, including the removal of three partition walls that separate the kitchen, bathroom and handwashing facilities.

The scheme was approved by North Yorkshire Council.

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