Plans have been submitted to turn an office space in the centre of a town into two apartments.

If approved by Rutland County Council, the first floor of 21 High Street in Oakham would be converted into a one-bed room flat and a studio flat.

The ground floor unit would remain in commercial use as Pickford's Pharmacy.

Described in the proposals as a "light-touch approach", the project would not alter the front-facing appearance of the building but would add a bin store and additional bicycle spaces at the back.

The studio flat would sit towards the back end of the building, leaving the single-bedroom apartment to face onto the High Street while retaining the original windows.

Although not listed itself, number 21 is surrounded by Grade II listed buildings on Oakham's High Street, including number 19 next door.

According to the proposals written on behalf of the applicant, converting the first floor would be "compatible" with the historic mixed-use character of a traditional town centre, "where living accommodation and ancillary uses above shops form part of the established pattern of occupation".

The street itself falls within a conservation zone covering a large south-eastern pocket of Oakham, in which stricter planning rules are enforced to protect the area's architectural character.

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As a prior approval application, the conversion should be permissible subject to assessment and approval of matters including interior exposure to natural light and noise from the pharmacy below.