Xafinity House, a defunct multi-storey office building, would need to be demolished to make way for the apartments.
The plans are supported by Steve Vigar, the council’s planning team leader.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he said: “The design of buildings would offer a high quality of architecture, which would have a positive effect on the townscape at close quarters and from other viewpoints in the town.”
Outline plans for the project were approved in July 2021, subject to detailed plans being approved at a later stage.
Changes made since include the scrapping of a single L-shaped building design in favour of separate blocks.
The development will provide 75 affordable rental flats, split into three three-bed, 27 two-bed and 45 one-bed flats, amounting to 12.5% affordable housing provision, less than the council’s policy of 30%.
The development project is car-free, except for four disabled spaces, with 337 cycle spaces provided.