A hardware shop in Burnham-On-Sea town centre could soon be turned into a development of flats if a new planning application gets approved.
Salways Hardware in Regent Street formally shut down at the end of 2015 after almost 100 years of business, but has remained partially open since.
Plans by WE Salway Limited to convert the property into six flats were turned down last year, as first reported here, but now the applicant has submitted new proposals for four flats instead.
Sedgemoor’s planning team rejected last year’s schemeciting concerns that it would “hurt the character and appearance of the Burnham-On-Sea Conservation Area” and have an “adverse impact on the viability and vitality of the town centre.”
Now, the applicant is seeking full planning permission for a change of use of the property – from a commercial building to residential use – in order to create the four new flats.
The application is to “convert a large single commercial unit into two units on the ground floor facing Regents street, and a change of use from commercial to residential in the remainder of the building.” It also covers the “rebuild of the structure and a small extension to upper storeys, retaining the front facade.”
The architects have corresponded with Sedgemoor Distict Council regarding changes to the design, to address the reasons for refusal of the first application.
Sedgemoor District Council and Burnham and Highbridge Town Council are considering the application, reference number 11/18/00046, and feedback is being invited from the public before the deadline of May 29th.
Salways owner Colin Morris previously told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Unfortunately, the shop has not made a profit for several years and we’ve made the decision to call it a day and close down. It’s a sad time – the shop has been running for around 100 years in Burnham.”
He added that increased competition in Burnham had also hurt trade in recent years. There are two other hardware stores in Burnham-On-Sea town centre – Home Hardware in the High Street and Proper Job in Adam Street.
