A former food retailer in Airdrie town centre looks set for a new lease of life as a pub.

British pub chain Amber Taverns has been given the go-ahead to convert the former Farmfoods in Stirling Street into a bar.

The company sought permission from North Lanarkshire Council to proceed with its plans and officers have now given their approval.

The proposals involve various modifications to the building, such as the addition of a new frontage, new windows and a wheelchair ramp, as well as the internal conversion work needed.

No new parking will be required as the building is close to multiple free car parks and good public transport links as it is also close to Airdrie Train Station and has a bus stop outside.

A statement provided alongside the planning application states that Amber Taverns already has more than 160 locations in England and Wales and is seeking to expand its Scottish portfolio, with several pubs already operating with more pending approval. It says it invests on high quality refurbishments, usually costing in the region of £600,000 per building.

In terms of job creation, each pub that opens employs around 15-20 staff with operators living on site. A flat is included in the plans for this purpose.

No objections to the plans were received by North Lanarkshire Council, either from its statutory consultees or the general public, and the application was also deemed to be in keeping with local policy.

Several conditions are attached with the approval, including measures designed to mitigate any potential issues with noise.