A former bank building on Court Street will be converted into offices and retail space, according to a recent planning application.

The proposal, which was approved by planning officials last month, would involve internal renovations to the Barritt Building along with the demolition of a drive-through structure, a new boundary wall and expanded car parking.

The building, at the junction of Court Street and Church Street, previously housed a branch of the HSBC Bermuda, but the bank began to phase out operations at the site in 2022.

A report by planning officials recommended the approval of the plans, noting that it would benefit the area to bring a prominent vacant building back into use.

“The proposed use would generate greater footfall and activity to this part of the City and is therefore supported,” the report said.

Under the plans, the building’s ground floor would be adapted for retail use, while the upper floor would be used as office space.

The proposal would also create an additional four car parking spaces on the lot, bringing the total number of car spaces to 22 while maintaining the 15 bike spaces already on the site.

Planning officers noted that while the plan does include new walls with privacy screening, the walls would not be on the “frontage” on to the roads so they would have a minimal visual impact on the area.

Meanwhile, the removal of the drive-in structure and a first-floor fire escape stair, which would be redundant, reduces the massing of the building.