Lifeline for empty former Sutton shop that traded for 113 years
The site of a much-loved former family shop in Sutton that traded for 113 years could soon be handed a lifeline.
The Clement Taylor clothes and gift shop stood on Brook Street from 1912, when it originally sold classical menswear and accessories, until last summer when it was forced to close,
It remained in Clem’s family for its entire existence. But its final owner Pete Haydon sadly shut up shop for good, blaming “decreased footfall in the town due to neglect, and also constant rising costs”.
It has been vacant and deteriorating in condition since last June. But now Ashfield District Council has received a planning application to not only revive the ground-floor retail unit but also to create a “discreetly positioned” two-storey rear extension to house three self-contained, one-bedroom flats.
The scheme includes alterations to the shop front and a new access to provide stairs to the flats above.
It is unclear at this stage the kind of business that would occupy the ground-floor shop. But the application says its opening hours would be 8 am to 10 pm on Mondays to Saturdays and 9 am to 9 pm on Sundays. It would employ three full-time members of staff and two part-time.
The applicant is listed as businessman Bavasuthan Selvanagam, and the agent for the project is Sathapalan Kanasalingam, boss of the Malathy Group, a London-based company of architectural and structural designers.
The building sits within a conservation area but is not listed. A planning statement says the development would be “designed to respect the established character of Brook Street” and would “not adversely affect the appearance and character of the area”.
The statement goes on: “By maintaining the active ground-floor retail use, the development supports the ongoing vibrancy and commercial identity of Brook Street.
"The proposal supports town-centre vitality, while the introduction of well-proportioned residential accommodation contributes to sustainable living within a highly accessible location.
"Overall, the development provides a sympathetic and positive intervention that safeguards the architectural and historic significance of its setting, meets modern functional needs and delivers long-term benefits to the community.”
The council’s planning officers are currently considering the proposal and hope to make a decision or recommendation by their deadline date of Wednesday, June 17.
THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/