Plans to regenerate Lydney's historic harbourside have been given the thumbs up.

Forest of Dean District Council's planning committee approved a planning application to develop the harbour to provide visitor facilities.

The plans include the conversion of two of the existing harbour buildings to house a heritage information point and toilet facilities, as well as the construction of a temporary café. The café will be trialled for five years to test the viability of this new business opportunity.

The building refurbishments form part of the wider Lydney Harbour corridor regeneration project, which aims to improve the access to the harbour and includes a new shared pedestrian and cycle track, landscaping improvements and a phased programme of canal dredging.

Planning approval means the Regeneration Team will be able to move on to the next stage and work towards securing the funding needed to make these improvements a reality.

Councillor Richard Leppington, cabinet member for development, asset management, infrastructure and housing said: "I hope that as this project progresses we will see additional investment in the Lydney harbour area, so that its potential for tourism and recreation can be opened up further."