Former railway station can become holiday let

Leaton New Station, near Bomere Heath, Shropshire, has not been in use since 1965

Plans to convert a former railway station that closed to passengers more than 60 years ago into a holiday let have been approved.

Leaton New Station, near the village of Bomere Heath, Shropshire, opened in 1847 before closing to passengers in 1960, and then for goods in 1965.

Its owner, Lord Ambrose Langley-Ingress, has put forward a proposal to convert the building into a holiday let, providing guest accommodation in association with the "established bed and breakfast business" at the Old Station.

Shropshire Council granted full planning permission for the scheme, subject to conditions.

Bomere Heath & District Parish Council has also supported the plans, adding it would enhance a dilapidated building while retaining local history, bringing tourism to the area.

Lord Langley-Ingress purchased the Old and New Stations in 1983 and converted the Old Station building to a bed and breakfast in 1997.

A statement included with the planning application said the applicant needed to expand to "future proof the business and let it continue to grow".

The proposal would "enhance the scale and appearance" of the site and aimed to "minimise the change to the character of the building," the statement said.

It added: “All proposals respect the existing building character by enhancing its remaining architectural merits."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.