CITY officials have approved a plan to change empty retail premises into a theatre school.

Theatre School of Scotland’s application to use 41 Stockwell Place has been granted permission by planners. The building was last occupied by a textile retailer.

The applicant is described as providing prestigious performing arts training for children and young people and was established in 2017.

Drawings shows the building would be divided into four studios, three singing rooms as well as a reception area and ancillary facilities.

Theatre School of Scotland currently use premises at Rogart Street but want to expand and have a more central location.

Proposed hours would be 9am to 9pm, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm on Friday and 9am to 5pm at weekends.

A statement submitted to the city council argued: “Given its location and amount of floor space to be given over to the proposed use, [the proposal] would not have a significant impact upon the range of shopping and retail facilities in the city centre.”