A £1.2m project to transform the former home of inventor Sir Richard Arkwright has been given the go-ahead.

The historic Grade II* listed Arkwright House in the centre of Preston, now the base for Age Concern Central Lancashire, is to be restored to “bring it into the 21st century”.

The Stoneygate town house will be given a three-storey extension, as well as improvements to the interior, lighting and electrics, and work is expected to start next year.

Linda Chivers, chief executive of Age Concern Central Lancashire, said: “We are delighted that planning permission has finally been approved.

“The rationale behind it is we are occupying a Grade II* listed building from which we deliver a great number of services to support older people.

“Because the building has had a number of extensions added on, it’s quite problematic to operate from, both from physical accessibility and also the facilities within the building are not in-keeping with what you would expect from a business operating in today’s climate.”

Plans to revamp the building, originally built in 1728, were approved by Preston Council.

Richard Edge, Croft Goode Architects’ lead designer on the project, said: “The proposals seek to demolish an unsuitable 1978 extension attached to the rear of Arkwright House and replace it with a new extension that will house a stairway and a lift to all floors.

“There will also be new toilets, kitchenettes and informal meeting spaces to allow the rest of the building to function at a higher level.

“Some internal remodelling is proposed in the older part of the building to complete a scheme that will bring Age Concern Central Lancashire into the 21st century.”