A COMMUNITY convenience store is to be converted into a home after more than thirty years in business.

The Ballard Down Store at the junction of Redcliffe Road and Ballard Way in Swanage has been granted planning permission for the change of use by Dorset Council.

A planning agent acting for the Harris family, which ran the 46square metre store, says the business has been making a loss for “some considerable time” with attempts to sell the business over the past year not being successful.

The property’s upper floor is the couple’s three-bed home with the ground floor divided between the shop, a storage area and a kitchen. The changes will incorporate the shop area into the home, making it a four bedroom property.

Conversion work will include a new front door on the ground floor, a new back door and utility area with new windows on the first floor.

Said the planning agent in a submission to Dorset Council : “It is not considered that these will be any harmful impact on the amenity of the neighbouring residents, and there may even be an improvement as there will no longer be any car deliveries or footfall associated with the shop.”

There were no neighbour objections to the change of use and Swanage Town Council supported the new use.

One neighbour commented that in changing times the end of the shop was inevitable.