OWNERS of a store want to convert its upper floors into six self-contained flats because, they say, road layout changes mean large lorries cannot deliver. Robert Brittain, a director of Brittain & Hobbs which sells domestic appliances and electrical goods at its shop in Sheerness High Street, is seeking planning permission from Swale Borough Council for the change.

Mr Brittain, whose business employs 40 in Sheerness and Sittingbourne, said stock stored on the shop's two upper floors would be transferred to the firm's warehouse at the Eurolink estate, Sittingbourne, which opened last September. Mr Brittain said delivery lorries could no longer negotiate the corner into Beach Street to reach the shop's warehouse at the rear.

But a Swale Borough Council spokesman said meetings had been held with Mr Brittain and details about vehicle sizes had been obtained. The High Street works were designed to enable the vehicles to continue accessing the shop's rear service area.