Plans to turn a shop in Rawdon into two flats has been refused because it would “affect the vitality” of the village .
It is the second time this year that Grovehall Estates have applied to Leeds City Council to convert the former Mobarak Boutique on Harrogate Road into living accommodation – a previous application was refused for similar reasons in February.
Their latest application said: “The shop has been marketed since May 2012. Very recently one point of interest was shown for a ‘micro brewery’.
“No offer was put forward. It is quite clear that the property is not viable as a retail unit.”
But planning officers said the shop was an important part of the village, and the company had not done enough to market the building.
The planning decision said: “Clearly, the loss of a retail unit to residential use within this shopping area will adversely erode its shopping provision, which both individually and as a prelude to further piecemeal loss, would undermine the vitality and future viability of Rawdon Leeds Road Local Centre.”
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