PLANNING permission has been granted for a former Minehead take-away and diner business to be converted into three residential flats.

Toms Fish Bar, in Summerland Road, was a chip shop take-away and cafe until the Covid pandemic forced its closure.

The business never reopened, although the premises were used for a time as a second-hand shop, and despite being up for rent or sale for a year through a local estate agent with a guide price of £30,000 it did not attract any interest.

Somerset Council planning officer Sarah Wilsher said changes to the outside of the building wold be minimal, with windows and doors in keeping with the existing style.

Ms Wilsher said the Victorian end of terrace building was at the junction of Summerland Road and Summerland Place, south of Minehead’s main shopping street and sat in a mainly residential area with a few shops, industrial businesses, and offices, and was in the Wellington Square conservation area.

She said the main reason for the lack of interest in the property was said to be that the location generated little passing trade, with better positioned retail units available in the town.

Ms Wilsher noted that no details of a valuation had been provided and the price was not dropped to encourage interest.

However, she said there were also no reduced offers received or offers to divide the commercial unit from the accommodation.

Ms Wilsher said: “There are a number of hot food takeaways and restaurants within the town centre which already compete for customers and being off the main thoroughfare, any new commercial business, if not already well established, may struggle to receive a steady income from sales.

“It is noted that a nearby jewellery shop in Summerland Road closed recently after only being open for about 12 to 24 months.

“It is therefore considered that the activity/business is no longer viable or sustainable in this location.

“The new residential use would not prejudice adjacent existing uses, as this area is predominantly residential, with some commercial businesses.

“Although there is a commercial garage in Summerland Place, the thick brick walls of the old buildings help to reduce any noise disturbance to the existing dwellings.”

Ms Wilsher said housing specialists advised the need for one and two-bedroom properties was usually high across Somerset, including in Minehead.

There were currently 269 households registered on Homefinder for a one-bed property and 165 needing a two-bed property in Minehead alone.

The applicant’s planning agent, Adam Elston, of Architectural Studio SW Ltd, said an existing manager’s flat would be reconfigured and two new flats created, one with two bedrooms and the others with one bedroom each.

Mr Elston said the only change to the look of the building would be the chip shop window facing Summerland Place being built up and replaced with smaller windows and timber cladding, and the remainder would be unchanged.

He said there would be no loss of employment to the town because the shop and manager’s flat were already vacant.