A former Cotswold hair salon that was converted into a village café will become a two-bed house - if planners agree to the change.

The semi-detached Meeting Place café, which is close to Broadway and adjacent to the primary school in the small village of Willersey, began its commercial life as a butchers and slaughterhouse but became a hairdressers in the 1960s before it was converted into a café for the village in 2020.

The business, which traded through the Covid period, was hit by a lack of custom and Cotswold District Council is now considering a request to change the address from Class E (commercial) to Class C3 (residential), while also permitting a minor rear extension and reconfiguration to allow a two-bedroomed home.

Planning consultant Lucy Righton, acting for owner Mrs S Taylor, that the salon "proved successful whilst the Post Office and Shop were either side of it and a building yard behind as well as the village School.

But she added: "The Post Office and Shop (Ashwin House) closed in the nineties and the builder's yard was relocated, to address traffic congestion issues along Church Street.

In a Design and Access statement, she added that the salon tenant decided not to renew her lease in 2020.

"After that, a considerable refurbishment took

place and the premises was opened as a café called The Meeting Place, which ran for approximately 12 months before closing in November 2022, due to a lack of demand and passing trade.

"Over time, it has become evident that due to the position of the property, ie on a no through road, and the change in economic climate, that the need for a commercial premises on Church Street is no longer required, leaving the building redundant.

However, she added that conversion is a suitable solution to new demand in the village: "There is... an ever-increasing demand for housing, especially less expensive smaller houses that are more affordable for young families or individuals. The lack of availability of two-bedroom homes restricts the next generation from remaining in Cotswold villages such as Willersey, deeming them exclusive in every sense of the word."