Shop conversion plans in Warkworth set to progress to next stage
Plans to convert a Warkworth shop into a residential house are making further progress.
Planning consent for the conversion of The Greenhouse was approved by Northumberland County Council in November.
A new application now seeks the green light from the local authority on the design and materials being used on the windows and door.
The Grade II listed building was originally built in the early 1920s as a Co-operative Society store.
The Co-op store closed in 1988 and opened a year later as an antique shop. It was used as a restaurant between 1993 and 2002.
Mr and Mrs Galilee, who have owned the property on Dial Place since 2004, plan to convert the retail space and a neighbouring flat into a single residential house.
There were no objections to the recent proposal from local residents, and while Warkworth Parish Council said it is a shame that the shop will close they felt it was a sympathetic conversion of an important building in the centre of the village.
An objection was raised by the council's conservation officer, in particular about the loss of the staircase to what was formerly managers accommodation.
The planning officer, delegating approval, noted: “The loss of the staircase to the managers accommodation would not result in such an unacceptable impact as to warrant refusal of the application on this ground alone.
"Indeed, when the scheme is taken as a whole, there are other aspects of the scheme which would result in a heritage benefits (including bringing the currently blocked staircase which was previously for access to the shop storage area on the first floor back into use).”