Owner and resident of former bookshop given permission to convert it back into a home
A former bookshop has been granted permission to convert back into a home, more than two years after closing.
Newport Book Shop traded from the original living room and dining room of the property on Upper Bar, Newport for more than a decade.
Application documents submitted by owner Mike Barwell said the store had been put on the market as a business premises but failed to sell, so he requested permission from Telford & Wrekin Council to convert the entire building back into a residence.
A planners report approving the change said the former shop, which closed in 2018, was in a “predominantly residential area” anyway, so the conversion “would be desirable” and not harm the area.
Mr Barwell, who ran the shop for more than 10 years, wrote in the application form: “The bookshop has been closed for over two years and the loss of this to the wider community would have no impact.
“The property has been for sale for some years and no interest has been shown by anyone wanting to run a business from here.
'No development'
“There will be no development of the building with the proposed changes back to domestic use, as they were originally the living room and dining room of the house.
“It is only these two front rooms that have commercial use and, after the change back to domestic use, the layout of these will remain the same.”
A report by council planning officers noted that no external changes were proposed, and the conversion would have no negative impact on the local road network.
“The property is already largely used as a residential property,” the report said.
“There is already adequate parking at the property.
“The building is located within a predominantly residential area. It is considered that the proposed conversion would be desirable and would not negatively impact upon the local high street.”
