An initial bid to convert an empty village shop in a South Cumbrian village into flats have been turned down.
Westmorland and Furness Council rejected proposals from Kirkby Platinum to convert Moorland Stores and post office on School Road in Kirkby-in-Furness into two flats after receiving more than 40 objections from villagers.
The developer had applied to the council to determine if prior approval was required for the proposed change from a redundant shop and post office into two ground floor flats.
But planning officers ruled the principle of the development was not acceptable as the existing use fell in planning terms under local community use and not commercial use as the shop mostly sold essential goods and there was no alternative store within a kilometre.
The shop was closed after it was bought following the previous owner’s retirement but villagers hope it will reopen as a store, as it had been a lifeline.
According to a report prepared by planners the internal floor areas of the proposed units fail to meet the national space standards, and the plans fail to accurately reflect the existing layout.
The decision notice added: “Recent internal work to insert new partition walls, radiators, and flooring have been carried out, and the existing floor plans submitted with the application fail to match the new internal layout.
“Therefore, on the basis of the information submitted, the local planning authority considers that the change of use to residential has likely already occurred.”
Planners said the proposed development did not fall under permitted development and full planning permission would be required.
