A BID to make changes to a Grade II-listed building in Oswestry that formerly housed a nationwide clothing chain was passed by Shropshire Council.

Owners of the building in Cross Street, which was until this year home to Dorothy Perkins, were told by Shropshire Council planning officers recently that its bid to replace the shop entrance door and other words was acceptable.

It is now home to the town’s unique mushroom and coffee shop, with the café premises on the ground floor and areas for growing mushrooms on the upper levels.

READ MORE: Oswestry Dorothy Perkins could become ‘mushroom coffee shop’

The former townhouse is believed to have become a shop in the 20th century, though not confirmed by agents, and has maintained much of its design.

According to applicants APM Assets Commercial Ltd through a design and access statement, he changes include redecoration of joinery, renewal of the paired entrance doors with a more traditional design, the changing of a fixed glass pane to form fielded lower panel and paired hatch casements, and the fixing of lights above the existing fascia sign.

Ruth Hitchen, the planning officer for the application, gave the go-ahead for the changes to be made, under conditions.

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In her report, she said that issues faced by the applicant included the visual and physical impact on the area’s heritage status but acknowledged that plans were amended throughout to ensure it was less harmful to the conservation.

She added that changes made to the building previously are not considered ‘historic’ and therefore and can be removed and changes as part of the application.

However, Ms Hitchen did apply conditions that external window, doors and signage plans must be submitted to the council before they are approved in writing the authority.

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She added: “These shall include full size details, 1:20 sections and 1:20 elevations of each joinery item which shall then be indexed on elevations on the approved drawings.

“All doors and windows shall be carried out in complete accordance with the agreed details.

“(This) is to safeguard the architectural and historic interest and character of the Heritage Asset.”