A ‘DILAPIDATED’ former city centre bar and lap-dancing club is set to be converted into a modern apartment complex after being given the green light at the second time of asking.

The bar known as the White Rooms will be turned into ten flats and two shops with developers also keen to expand the project by buying the next door former council offices on Milford Street.

Elected planning officials had narrowly voted to reject the plans during a meeting in December but resubmitted designs had sought to address councillor concerns.

These included improved drainage and waste collection. An outer door would also be shut by a management company stopping late night revellers from entering the complex.

Fears of noise from late night bar Zoo were eliminated when it was bought by Greenfield Gunmakers to be converted into an extension of the shop.

Developer Guy Macklin said: “Our goal is to turn this part of Milford Street into a similar quality feel that Winchester Street behind our site currently enjoys.

“We will be investing nearly £2million into the local economy to deliver this scheme which is both supporting local employment and the local building material supply chain. We are keen to bring this part of Milford Street back to life.”

The application, branded as the Old Brewery, was proposed to be a complete revamp of the site which had been unused for several years and has fallen into a state of disrepair.

It involved the demolition of a single storey block at the back and the construction of four one-bed, four two-bed and two three-bed apartments. Two shops would face onto Milford Street.

Councillors unanimously backed the proposal saying most of their concerns had been addressed.

Cllr Richard Clewer said: “The only problem I still have bluntly is the design of the two buildings at the back. I’m still concerned with how they fit in with the nature of the city in that area.”

However Cllr Chris Devine argued that if the aesthetics of design were talked about too much nothing would ever be built in the city centre.

“This [development] is about as good as it gets,” he added.