A FORMER town centre library could be converted into flats and a shop if Powys County Council planners give it the go-ahead.

The High Street building, which was built in the 1970s, has been empty since the library was relocated in 2017.

After buying the vacant property at auction by Powys County Council in October last year the applicant, Surrey-based building contractor Nick Jones of Wye Construction, now hopes to convert it into a shop and four flats.

Plans have been submitted to convert the ground floor into retail space which may create two full time jobs and up to 10 part time jobs in a new general store.

The application shows plans to convert the first floor into two two-bedroomed flats, and build a new second floor which would include a one-bedroom flat and a two-bedroom flat.

The application also includes plans to build an extension at the back of the building and access to the flats. Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust said the proposed extension will be located within the “medieval historic core” of Builth Wells and likely to form part of a former burgage plot which may include archaeology related to the occupation of the frontage.

“We would therefore require an appropriate level of archaeological monitoring during the initial ground preparation works to identify and record any features that may be revealed,” archaeologist Mark Walters said.

The former library went up for sale at auction for a second time in October last year, after the bidding failed to reach its guide price of £140,000 in March 2019.

Powys County Council, which sold the building, had put the town centre building back on sale with a guide price of £100,000 along with 11 other surplus buildings in a bid to raise more than £1.5 million.

Powys County Council planners are expected to make a decision on the application in July.