A HISTORIC building most recently home to a computer repair shop will soon house a spa.

Planning permission has been granted to convert the former Computer Solutions in Charles Street.

The spa is set to offer customers the use of infrared saunas and - potentially at a later date - electronic massage chairs.

The shop unit forms part of a Victorian workshop originally built in 1897 for the celebrated inventor John James Cam, who made motorcycles and components for cars.

It became known as the Cam Engineering Building and a blue plaque honouring Cam can still be seen on its front.

The building isn’t listed but has been considered for local listing.

Council officers say there will be no changes to the exterior of the property and no excavation works will take place, so no archaeology is needed.

City planners approved an application for change of use, saying it was important to encourage new businesses to open in the area.

They said while the intended use was against local policy, it had to be weighed against the detrimental impact of having an empty unit.