PLANS to turn a former Nether Stowey hairdressing salon into holiday accommodation are being considered by Somerset Council.
A change of use planning application has been submitted by owner Glyn Hodgson for the grade two listed The Courtyard Shop, in Caste Street.
Mr Hodgson said the property had not been used for five years and villagers with whom he had spoken felt it would be a benefit to bring ‘the old shop back to life’.
He said the plan was to change the shop to additional accommodation for Standfast House next door, a former bed and breakfast establishment which he bought in 2022, and use it as a one-bedroom guest suite and for short-term lets.
Holiday accommodation would ‘add to the nature of the village and allow more tourists to stay in Nether Stowey and support the local economy’.
He said: “With two shops, two pubs, and a butchers in the village, the holiday let would be well sustained by the local facilities.”
Mr Hodgson said during the low season the premises might be used as accommodation for staff working at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site.
“However, the main aim will be to maximise the offering to holidaymakers,” he said.
Mr Hodgson said there would not be any changes to the outside of the The Courtyard Shop, which was a single-storey lean-to construction.
The main house was now a family residence and there were no plans to have paying guests staying in it again.
Mr Hodgson said there had been a reduction in local holiday accommodation, so a central self-contained holiday let with parking would be beneficial to the area.
He said the property would be modernised internally with new electric wiring and water pipes, failed plaster work replaced, a new kitchen fitted in an open space kitchen-diner-lounge, and the toilet would be made into a wet room, while the previous beautician room would become a double bedroom.
Mr Hodgson said he had spoken to the former hairdresser, who now worked at another salon nearby, who confirmed there was not enough trade to support two similar businesses.