A building in Sutton that once housed one of the town’s most enduring independent shops is set for a fresh lease of life.

The freehold property, at 174 Outram Street, was occupied by The Marie Gown Shop, which sold high-quality ladies’ clothes, for more than 70 years.

Built between 1900 and 1929, the property was originally a wet-fish and fruit store and later sold furniture before it was taken over by Selston woman Marie Wright.

She handed over the reins in 1981 to Ann Cooper, who worked there for many years. In 2019, 66-year-old Ann was presented with a special plaque by Ashfield District Council to honour the shop‘s longevity and its service to the Sutton community.

The former Marie Gown Shop, on Outram Street, Sutton, before it closed. (PHOTO BY: Property Auctions)

placeholder image — The former Marie Gown Shop, on Outram Street, Sutton, before it closed. (PHOTO BY: Property Auctions)

The Marie Gown Shop is now permanently closed, vacant and boarded up and, according to The Move Market website, the two-storey building was sold in 2024 for £95,000.

Last year, a planning application was submitted to determine if prior approval was needed for a change of use at the building from commercial and business to residential.

Ashfield Council said yes it was, so now a fresh application has been compiled to convert the shop into a house, complete with alterations to the existing frontage.

The plan has been lodged by Alice Wanjiku, whose agent for the scheme is the Sheffield-based firm, Lee Redfern Architecture.

How the shop has looked in recent times since it closed. (PHOTO BY: Google Maps)

The application points out that there are already houses either side of the property and also to the rear. Under the proposal, the vehicle and pedestrian access would remain the same.

The proposed work would include removing the shop-front glazing and roller shutter, and replacing them with a frontage in the style of a residential home.

The council has been told that the conversion work has already started but has not yet been completed.

The council’s planning officers are currently considering the scheme and hope to make a decision or recommendation by their deadline date of Monday, August 31.

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/