YORK'S former council offices will be turned into luxury homes after planners gave a £25million development the green light.

St Leonards Place, in Museum Street, has stood empty since 2013 when City of York Council departed for West Offices.

The building, which was built in 1831 as nine town houses, will become five townhouses and 29 apartments, and a mix of six conversion and new build mews properties are planned for the rear of the main crescent.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the development, but Cllr Ken King said he was ashamed of the way the Grade II Listed building had been allowed to deteriorate.

"When we went on the site visit I thought it was quite sad to see the state of it, and it was appalling," he told the authority's Planning Committee.

"It's dirty, filthy and looks a complete mess, and as a member of this council I'm ashamed we have let it get into that state."

The area surrounding the new homes is currently being re-developed by a number of private and public investors, including refurbishments at York Art Gallery and York Theatre Royal.

And councillors said they believe restoring St Leonards Place would help make it a luxurious part of the city.

Cllr Janet Looker said: "This patch of York is seeing the most amazing development from public and private developers and they are going to create an amazing corner of the city.

"It's something that will last and stand to give future residents of York tremendous enjoyment and pleasure."

Mark Finch, director of Real Estate Rushbond, said: "We have to bring this vacant building back into use as soon as we can.

"What this application does is provide a wonderful and exciting opportunity to bring the buildings back into high quality homes.

"There's some fabulous work going on in that area with the Theatre Royal, York Art Gallery and Exhibition Square, and we think this is the final piece of the revitalisation.

"It's privately funded and we have 75 people working on site which is a great opportunity for the economy."