PLANS to turn an iconic clock tower into apartments have been given the go-ahead - if a deal can be struck over affordable housing.

Developers PJ Livesey and Henry Boot got the unanimous go ahead for their plan for the tower at the old Terry’s factory in York - and won praise for coming up with the proposals.

Cllr John Galvin, chairman of the area planning committee, said: “It’s patently obvious that unless it is financially viable it will fall down, and that would be a tragedy. I am delighted with what is being proposed, it’s an admirable solution.”

The plans had drawn criticism from some people nearby, who had wanted earlier schemes for a public use for the building to go ahead.

However planning consultant Kate Bailey told the planning committee that other plans had proved unviable, and if the specialist developers walked away from the project there was no “plan B” to save the building.

“Despite the previous grant of outline planning permission no sustainable or viable commercial proposals have come forward since the factory closed ten years ago,” she said.

“We have been in discussions for a year, and all this time the vacant buildings have continued to deteriorate.”

The building had many constraints including the location and the poor structural condition, she added.