A former beauty salon on Shepton Mallet's Tadley Acres estate is to be converted into a three-bedroom house, after Somerset Council granted prior approval for the change of use.

The decision means the ground-floor commercial space at The Corner Shop, Starling Way, previously used as "Skin and Tonic", will be combined with the existing first-floor flat to form a single residential property.

Applicant Ms J Brook submitted the request under permitted development rules (application 2025/1480/PED), citing a lack of commercial viability and no interest from potential buyers or tenants since the business closed following the Covid lockdown.

According to planning documents, the commercial unit — a 33m² salon space — had been vacant for two years. An earlier planning application to extend the building into a convenience store was approved but the sale fell through.

Somerset Council assessed potential impacts including access, flooding, noise, contamination and light levels, and confirmed that prior approval was required and has now been given.

The council noted the property is in a sustainable location, with walking and cycling access to local schools, shops and services, and lies outside the town's conservation area.

No external building work is required apart from new French doors at the rear. The site includes private garden space, a large storage shed for bikes, and two parking spaces — one on a driveway and one in a garage.

The application falls under Class MA of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, which allows certain commercial premises to be converted to housing without a full planning application.

More local stories:

• Shepton councillors to vote on £15k Amulet investment at crunch town meeting
• Jobs in Shepton Mallet: Engineers, drivers, fitters and clinical roles

Sign up to our free local newsletter — Our top stories in your inbox every Friday.