Grade II Listed building to turn into coffee shop

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Monday, 12 August 2019 15:37

By Andrew Morris - Local Democracy Reporter

A Grade II-listed building will be transformed into a coffee shop after plans were given the green light.

Shropshire Council planning chiefs granted Blakemans permission to turn 54 High Street, Church Stretton into a coffee house.

Trystan Williams, Shropshire Council planning case officer, said the development is acceptable for the area proposed.

He said: “This application seeks full planning permission to change the use of the above property’s ground floor from a retail shop to a coffee shop. 

“No external alterations are proposed (the application form states that no hot food would be prepared on the premises, so presumably no extract ventilation system is required). 

“Meanwhile, internal alterations would be minor and essentially cosmetic, and it has been established that listed building consent is not required. 

“The property comprises the north end of a short terrace fronting the west side of High Street in Church Stretton’s town centre and conservation area. 

“Together with adjoining number 56 it is a Grade II-listed building dating back to the 17th century, of two storeys in painted coursed stone under plain clay tiled roofs, and with later rear extension wings. 

“Number 54 itself has a late 19th century plate glass shopfront and glazed panelled door. 

“Its ground floor retail space has been empty since early 2019, whilst the upper floor is understood to be let separately as a residential flat.”

Four objections were received against the plans including “that new use would add no value to the high street as Church Stretton already has seven dedicated coffee shops, plus three pubs which serve coffee and two delicatessens offering take-out coffee.”

But granting permission, Mr Williams said: “The development is acceptable in principle as there is a general presumption in favour of all town centre uses in this location. 

“There would be no harm to the significance of the listed building or the wider conservation area, and moreover, bearing in mind the established mix of uses in the vicinity, the nature of the business proposed and the safeguards which exist under separate legislation, the scheme is unlikely to impact significantly on residential amenity.”

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