PLANS to turn convert shop space into flats in a major Oswestry road have been given the go ahead by Shropshire Council - but the shop will stay open.

After an application was submitted in August this year, permission for a ground-floor one-bedroom flat at 31 Leg Street, plus two more on the first floor, was granted on Friday, December 8.

The ground-floor space to the rear of the building is currently empty, which is home to Earthlink and Good Vibrations, and will be converted into a flat.

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According to an overview of the project, submitted alongside the application, the shop will remain open.

It said: “The planning submission is proposing the refurbishment of an existing operational commercial property on the ground floor and residential at the rear of the premises on the ground floor with residential on the first floor. 

“The property has been unused at the rear and the first floor for many years and requires substantial investment to bring back to use.

“The existing commercial shop frontage will retain its current tenants.

“The rear of the development will be refurbished into a ground floor independent flat with rear access to a further four large quality studios with a shared kitchen. 

“This will offer choices for people to rent in affordable, quality accommodation who wish to rent in the Oswestry and surrounding area.”

The statement added that people working on the conversions will be parking at a nearby car park, with Central Car Park close by and work will be carried out between 8am and 4pm on a weekday.

Any work on a Saturday – which the applicants say is unlikely – will run from 8am until 1pm.

The company carrying out the work – Birch Street Construction – says they will put a pedestrian management plan into place as well as ensuring all necessary materials will be delivered and stored at an appropriate time and place.

Shropshire Council planning officer Mark Perry, in his report on approving the decision, said that it was an amended scheme that had not received objections from Oswestry Town Council at the time of writing his report.

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However, he does state that the council did object to the original application, believing it was unsuitable.

He added: “It is considered that the proposed alterations would contribute towards providing a mix of uses in the town centre.

“The alterations proposed would have no significant adverse impact on the character and appearance of the site.”