A bid to convert a shop on Cinderford's High Street has been backed by planners – despite the community's fears of a "ghost town".

The now-vacant Ultimate Hair and Beauty, at number 31 on Cinderford's main shopping thoroughfare, sits next door to the Golden Lion pub – and just two doors down from the constituency office of Forest MP and UK Transport Minister Mark Harper.

The property, which last sold in 2002 for £36,000, is part of a real estate portfolio owned by Lynda Searancke, who is the director of Littledean-based Seal Lettings Ltd.

Additionally, Ms Searancke owns Forest Barn Holidays Ltd and SA Builders Ltd. Last April, Ms Searancke resigned a directorship on the board of Visit Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism Ltd.

Positioned opposite the town's Original Factory Shop outlet, the unit was previously divided into two: the Norma Little Unisex hair salon, which arrived in 2007, and the Radiance sauna, tanning and fitness salon. However, records indicate that the current business was forced to close in October 2022 due to what the owner cited as "many reasons" – and has subsequently remained vacant.

An application was made in November by Ledbury-based Tufnell Town and Country Planning on behalf of Ms Searancke to convert both the ground floor shop and the flat above into domestic living space. Any feedback was then requested for delay by Cinderford Town Council, whose clerk, Emma Bennett, told Forest of Dean planners: "A number of Councillors expressed concern and objected about losing a town centre shop," although she added that no concern was registered regarding the flat above.

In reaction to the application, Sarah Davies, who lives nearby on the High Street, told FoDDC: "There is no need for any more houses to be on the high street in Cinderford for a few reasons. The building should be let out as a shop, the rent should be looked at and made cheaper to accommodate possible new business owners. Also there are too many flats on the high street, unfortunately resulting in more people 'hanging out' in public areas and causing un-rest."

She added: "These flats usually don't have gardens and people use the high street for personal space and put their washing out on the street. This happens a lot on Cinderford high street and makes it a horrible place. Also this will result in black bins on the paths, which is also[...] disgusting and in the way of pedestrians. We don't need more smalls [sic] flats that don't have facilities to properly accommodate people, we need more shops more possibilities for local people to make this town into something good again."

Stephen Dean, who also lives in the town, added: "We are losing too many commercial properties in Cinderford. This is a prime commercial location and should not be turned into more flats or Cinderford will become a ghost town," while Darren Green of nearby Colliers Field added: "Valuable retail space in the heart of the town being turned into domestic property, this has severe impact on an already struggling town. No waste bin store allocation."

However, Ms Searancke told Punchline: "We have owned the property for more than 20 years and the problem of retail tenants is not a new phenomenon. We do not have a queue of people wanting to retail, but we have a lot wanting to rent for accommodation."

As an empty premises, she added that the aesthetic of the High Street would be improved: "Residential conversion can still look like retail and can look well cared-for, so we see this as an improvement.

"And ultimately, if people want to see their high street improve, they need to stop buying online."

FoDDC Case officer Ryan Morgan acknowledged complaints and summarised that fears were also raised on the impact upon the aesthetics of the town centre, while the address also had no allocated car parking.

But while FoDDC's AP.30 planning policy "explicitly states that the conversion of ground floor space to residential will not be permitted and premises will be expected to retain a ground floor shop front", he added that "this current proposal is not a full application and therefore this policy of the Local Plan cannot be considered".

He added: "Thus, the LPA are only able to consider whether the scheme is compliant with the matters set out within Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended)."

The application therefore accorded with Schedule 2, Part 3, Class MA of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015.

● Last month, Cinderford's MP Mark Harper posted his support for Small Business Saturday (December 2nd). Mr Harper said: I have lived in the Forest for over 20 years, and I have used and got to know so many of the fantastic business and business owners.

On the issue of supportiing local business, he recently posted: "I take the time to listen to our small and medium sized businesses, including our shops and those in the hospitality sector who are the backbone of the local economy. I went to particular lengths to support them in our recovery from the pandemic, leading the case in Parliament to get our economy back open as soon as safely possible."

Several local businesses have been the beneficiaries of government grants in recent years, he added: "I have been happy to play my part in supporting them. For example, the Rising Sun at Woodcroft and the George Café in Newnham have received £175,000 and £250,000 respectively from the Community Ownership Fund, helping to get these fantastic venues back open and run by and for the local community."

In October, he visited Cinderford's Friday Market, at the Picture House Gallery, and praised its contribution to local retail activity.