Approval has been given by Mendip planners for the change of use of the former Shepton Mallet Police Station to a nine-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The green light was given this week to the plan by Property Fast Track to convert the former station in Commercial Road into an HMO with associated internal and external alterations, and five off-street parking spaces.

A House in Multiple Occupation is a house or other dwelling in which several different households are living, sharing facilities such as a kitchen or bathroom.

Examples of HMOs are shared flats and houses, bedsits, hostels, halls of residence for students or nurses, boarding houses, hotels or bed and breakfasts with permanent residents, or some supported accommodation, such as foyers or "move on" accommodation for homeless people.

The former police station is Grade II listed which means that no changes could be made to the fabric of the building without specific listed building consent.