A FORMER West Somerset wedding venue will be turned into a 20-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO), possibly for Hinkley Point C workers, after plans were approved.

The Grange, off Main Road, Cannington, was a wedding venue until closing in 2022 shortly after the Covid pandemic.

It was auctioned last year and has been marketed for ‘working professionals seeking comfort and convenience’, with prices from £200 per week.

Now, DMLR Investments Ltd has secured permission from Somerset Council for its conversion, with a number of alternations planned to the interior.

The property is less than a mile’s walk to the village’s Hinkley Point C park and ride site.

The plans will see a laundry room converted to a bedroom, with a utility room turned into into an en suite bathroom.

Offices will become a communal laundry room, with the original kitchen, dining, and living areas reconfigured as bedrooms, and the former living room re-purposed as a shared kitchen.

A Crossman Planning Consultancy spokesperson said: “The site occupies a sustainable location with convenient access to the A39, the Hinkley Point C park and ride facility, and regular bus services providing direct connections to Bridgwater.

“This site benefits from strong transport links and proximity to local services, supporting the property’s suitability for conversion and reuse.”

A Land Rich spokesperson said there was no appetite for restoring The Grange to its previous use and the change would meet local need.

The spokesperson said: “There is no effective market demand for the site in its current or potential commercial formats.

“The site’s location, building layout, and costs make it unattractive for viable reuse for commercial purposes.

“Comparable sites demonstrate a consistent lack of success for similar rural employment premises.

“Conversely, there is a critical and growing need for high-quality shared accommodation, particularly linked to the Hinkley Point C project and wider housing constraints.”