AN historic shop in the centre of Dunster is to be allowed to be converted to a home despite objections from parish councillors.
Exmoor National Park Authority’s planning committee approved an application by Horse and Crook owner Abigail Larter.
The three-storey grade two listed High Street property is close to the village’s historic Yarn Market and next to the Memorial Hall, which houses the Dunster Museum and Doll Collection.
Part of it had been a shop premises since the 1950s and three previous conversion applications had been refused, the last one being in 2022.
Park planning officer Andrew Spiers said the previous refusals were mostly because not enough information had been provided with the applications and there was a lack of marketing history to show that efforts had been made to sell it as a shop.
Mr Spiers said it was now known that two estate agents had marketed the shop continuously since September, 2020, with only one person showing an interest, but they failed to obtain a mortgage because it was felt the retail element was not financially viable.
Dunster Parish Council wanted the property to be kept as it was and believed giving approval for the conversion could encourage the loss of more shops resulting in ‘a failing High Street’.
But Mr Spiers said the loss of what was only a small retail unit would not have any significant impact on the viability of the High Street, and any other applications wold be considered on their own merits.
Ms Larter’s planning agent, Tim Burton, said: “While a desire to retain as many retail uses within the core of the village of Dunster is understood, the marketing of the building has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt, that there is no interest in taking on this building for such a purpose.
“It is not in the interests of the building or its setting for it to remain empty, which will inevitably be the case should planning permission not be granted.
“Returning the building to its original form as a single dwelling is the only way to give it a sustainable future.”