Plans for eight flats above an H&M store have been approved.

Worthing Borough Council officers approved revised plans submitted in February, which will see an extra two floors added to the roof of the H&M building at 31-35 Montague Street, Worthing.

Approved plans from November last year saw only five flats across the two new floors, with new layout changes to see three duplex flats changed to six one-beds in revised plans, with eight flats in total fronting onto Bath Place.

The development will be car-free as it is surrounded by pedestrianised roads and double yellow line parking controls, so car parking on surrounding roads is restricted, with 27 cycle storage spaces to be provided instead.

The site is within the South Street Conservation Area and although the building is not heritage listed, it is surrounded by Grade II listed buildings. No objection was raised by The Worthing Society when consulted on the plans.

Planning permission was also granted in 2021 for a change of use for the second and third floors, from retail to residential use, with a third floor extension and fourth storey addition to make 14 new homes – with planners EA Planning saying they were ‘near completion’.

EA said in the plans: “Similar to the previous application, this application seeks to make efficient use of this vacant roof space within the town centre. The mix of housing seeks to cater for young couples, retired couples as well as small family households. The provision of additional housing units in this highly sustainable location is welcomed and supported by the Local Planning Authority and Council Members.”