EXCITING plans to breathe new life into one of Huddersfield's largest buildings have been warmly welcomed.

Kirklees councillors unanimously approved plans to convert St George's Warehouse into offices and flats.

Following the vote at the Huddersfield area planning sub- committee, Clr Mohan Sokhal said: "We need someone to put some money into there, and we thank God for this."

The meeting heard that planners had been working for more than two years with developers to come up with a suitable plan for the redundant building, which is off New North Parade, next to the railway station.

A planners' report said the proposals were "interesting and welcome".

It added: "This building has been empty for far too long and this proposal represents an opportunity to bring it back into use and to provide a boost to this part of the town centre."

Huddersfield-based HD1 developments wants to convert the 240,000sq ft red brick building into 62 flats on the top three floors and office space on the two floors below these.

The ground floor will remain vacant.

There would be no external alterations to the grade two listed building, but light wells will be put through the building.

These are accepted as the only feasible way to give light in a building of this size. They have been approved by English Heritage.

The planners' report said the building had a long history of failed proposals.

The latest was in the mid- 1990s, when permission was granted for a mixed development. Work started and several light wells were created.

But nothing has happened since.

More details are expected to be revealed now the plans have been approved.