Councillors are hopeful that approved plans for a YMCA housing scheme will lead to the “renaissance” of a 1920s building.

Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee has unanimously agreed permission this afternoon for the conversion of the basement, first, second and third floors of the former HMV store in Western Road, Brighton, into a managed housing scheme for up to 20 residents.

YMCA deputy chief executive Chas Walker said the building was not a hostel but a “moving on scheme” for 18 to 35-year-olds which the charity deemed ready to live independently.

He hoped that the building would help towards solving the “emerging housing crisis” for young people in the city.

Trix Webber raised a number of resident concerns at the meeting claiming that YMCA residents could add to ongoing anti-social behaviour in the area and suggested the site would be better used for offices or longer-term residential uses.

YMCA management assured the planning committee that the site would be managed 24 hours a day and that problems that residents were suffering from other nearby hostels was because they were “unmanaged”.

Green councillor Alex Phillips said she was very pleased that the scheme would benefit young, local people while her party colleague Leo Littman said the site would provide accommodation for young people who had been priced out of city centre flat sharing over the past decade.

Committee chairman Phelim MacCafferty said the “handsome building” was looking “quite sad” at the moment.

HMV used the building up until Christmas 2012 and a retailer currently uses the basement and ground floors at a rent of £4,000 a month although moves to find a more long-term business for the site have proved unsuccessful.