The Bridgwater building was formerly home to Furniture & Things, in St John Street. Picture: Google

Nine-bedroom HMO plan for former Bridgwater furniture shop

Paul JonesJuly 17, 20250 Comment0

A FORMER furniture shop in Bridgwater could become a nine-room house of multiple occupancy, if plans are approved.

A planning application has been submitted to Somerset Council by KC UK Properties Ltd to redevelop 59 St John Street, formerly home to Furniture & Things.

Agent James Venton Planning & Building Design said the scheme would convert the building, including the vacant ground-floor shop, into a nine-bedroom HMO.

“Although located within the development boundary for Bridgwater, the site falls outside of the town centre and also outside of the conservation area,” the application said.

“More importantly, the site falls outside of the recognised retail area for the town.

“Numerous former retail properties have changed to residential use along this stretch of St John Street over the years.

“The furniture shop closed its doors some while ago. It was actively marketed for sometime by local estate agents with little interest as a retail concern.”

It said external alterations to the property “will be minimal”, with the former shop façade replaced to match those of the first floor.

“In reality, returning the property to something like it used to originally be from an appearance perspective,” it went on.

“All other alterations are to be internal through the conversion of the internal spaces.”

The plans would see nine individual bedrooms created, alongside “ample communal space and appropriate bin and cycle storage together with an external courtyard area to the rear”.

Residential use, including HMO, are “a common form of use in this and the surrounding area”, the application said, with “excellent” transport links.

“It is felt that this use is appropriate in this location, and the proposal will give the building a much needed facelift in terms of its external appearance,” the application added.

For more information, and to comment on the plans, log on to somerset.gov.uk and search application reference 08/25/00118.