Coffee chain Starbucks has been granted permission to relocate its store within Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre.

Planning officials have approved a bid from the St Enoch Trustee Company which will see the cafe take over an empty unit.

The space had previously been used as a shoe shop but has been empty for around four years.

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"The relocation and expansion to unit 18 will generate jobs and increase the footfall in the St Enoch Centre, all to the benefit of the wider city centre’s vitality and viability," the application stated.

It added the "occupation of this unit by Starbucks Coffee will positively contribute to this part of the St Enoch Centre". 

The firm’s current home in the building is "significantly smaller than the proposed unit".

Bosses at the St Enoch Centre told planning officials that they believe the change will "secure a long-term tenant that contributes positively to the vibrancy of the shopping centre at all times of day".

They added in the face of "internet retailing and wider trends, national multiple retailers have for some time been ‘right sizing’ their portfolios, whilst the shopping ‘experience’ is ever more important for non-internet retail".

There are future plans to demolish the current St Enoch Centre, replacing it with a mixed-use development including homes, retail, leisure, hotel and offices. 

That redevelopment would take place over the next 20 years. An application for planning permission in principle for the masterplan was submitted in March last year.