A CHILDREN'S indoor play area, which closed suddenly last year, is set to become a housing advice centre after plans were given the go-ahead by councillors.

Soft play area and cafe Shakeey Shake and Play in Trinity Street, which closed in November, will be taken over by Worcester City Council to house its housing advice team which is moving from the Hive.

The city council's planning committee backed the plans at a meeting in the Guildhall last Thursday (January 24).

The plan had to be decided by the council's planning committee as the city council was the applicant.

The building had been empty for a number of years until it was turned into a children's soft play area and cafe in 2016.

A statement on the children's play area's Facebook page in November last year said the business would no longer be trading.

The council wants to move its housing advice centre into the now vacant building as the lease runs out at the Hive in March.

The centre would offer advice on housing benefits as well as homelessness prevention services.

The planned opening hours for the housing advice centre would be 9.30am until 4.30pm between Monday and Friday.