A BID to turn the former Dunbar home of the Church of Scotland’s counselling service into apartments has been given the go-ahead.

Harrison Hunt (The Manse) Ltd will convert the St Andrews Centre, 9 Bayswell Road, into four apartments.

The building was previously the home of CrossReach, which offers care to people of all ages.

However, the Church of Scotland service moved to Prestonpans in March last year.

Plans to transform the building were approved by East Lothian Council’s planning department. Planning officials took into account that the building lies within the town’s conservation area.

A report outlining the reasons for approving the scheme noted: “The proposed alterations are relatively minor in scale and nature.”

The proposals were backed by the town’s community council. A letter to the local authority noted the change of use was supported to prevent the building becoming decayed, provided the development was sympathetic to the building’s architectural details.

In the design and access statement, Harrison Hunt (The Manse) Ltd said: “The old manse is currently empty following the decision by the former tenant, Church of Scotland, to relocate their social work services to an alternative location.

“Given the previous and historic residential use of the building, it is now considered timely and appropriate to revert this vacant building back to a residential use.”