Development plans for former shoe shop approved

Councillors have backed plans to redevelop a former shoe shop despite concerns about parking at the site.

The former Howarths shoe shop, in Royston High Street, has been empty since 2007 when the store closed its doors.

Now owners of the listed building, thought to be one of the oldest in Royston, are applying for permission to conver the upper floor into flats.

At a meeting of Royston Town Council’s planning committee, held on Monday evening, councillors gave their backing to plans to create new access to the upper floor of the building, to enable the flats to be built.

But councillor Bob Smith, Royston’s Mayor, said: “The plans state that Royston Town Council will provide parking permits for the people who live in these flats. Well, we don’t give out parking permits so we need clarification on that.”

The plans will now go before North Herts District Council’s planning committee. If approved, it will be the latest shop conversion on the High Street, with the owners of the former Peacocks store having been granted permission to convert the upper floor of their building into a series of appartments.