Leys Stores in Soham

A SOHAM business has been granted permission to expand its premises.

The owners of Ley Stores, in Pratt Street, applied to East Cambridgeshire District Council back in early December to transform a side building used for storage into additional retail space for their convenience store.

Architect behind the plans, Andrew Fleet, told planners: “The proposals would result in the part-demolition of existing ground floor single storey side element to allow for extension of retail area, formalisation and additions to flats on first floor and inclusion of new external staircase and first floor access door.

“Widening of the front access door to retail area and reduction in width of associated adjacent window to provide a more suitable disabled access.”

The plans were backed by Soham Town Council and, earlier this week, East Cambridgeshire District Council gave its blessing to the plans.

Case officer Ann Caffall said in her report: “The proposal reinforces an existing retail use and it is not considered that this would be to the detriment of other retail users closer to the town centre.

“The proposal improves customer choice by enabling disabled access and reinforces residential use at first floor level.”