TWO shops on Middlewich’s high street will be converting into residential properties after being granted permission for the change of use.


Brooks and Bostock jewellers has been a mainstay of Wheelock Street in Middlewich for around 50 years but is now set to be turned into a residence. 


Another commercial property on Wheelock Street, which has been vacant for some time and was most recently a café, will also join Brooks and Bostock in changing its use with the property at 70B set to turn into a flat. 


Concern among the community grew last month when the Guardian reported that the two properties had submitted planning applications to convert into residential use, with many saying they were worried that there would soon be no shops in the town. 


Middlewich Town Council clerk Jonathan Williams agreed that the trend in shops turning into houses is a concern but said it would be addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan.


Jonathan said in May: “Like everything else, there needs to be a balance. We can’t just keep letting Wheelock Street go residential and letting it flitter away one by one. 


“We need to do further work, we recognise that there is a lot of land available from the Tesco land that’s now being freed up and we can maybe utilise that. 


“It’s something that we will pick up on the Neighbourhood Plan process.”


Middlewich Heritage officer Kerry Fletcher said despite the situation being ‘demoralising’, the properties can always turn back into shops.


Kerry said: “The high street has always ebbed and flowed and it is demoralising when you see shops turning into houses but the last thing we want is empty buildings and there’s nothing to stop them from turning back into shops.”