Budget footwear retailer Shoe Zone has been given the go-ahead to move into a large new premises in central Hereford.

It has been given planning permission to knock together the previously separate 12 and 13 High Town, a jointly grade II listed property dating from the 18th century on the north side of the pedestrianised street.

Mountain Warehouse, now in the Old Market, previously occupied number 12, while 13 was last home to Game Retail. Only the leftmost (number 12) doors onto High Town will be retained under the plan.

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In a nod to the building’s history, Charville Estates said in its planning application it would re-establish the “Gurneys” sign, the name of a former grocery shop, between the first and second floor windows.

Herefordshire Council’s buildings conservation officer Debra Lewis listed several concerns in her initial 11-page response to the plan, concluding it “would cause a level of harm to the building which cannot be justified”.

How the front of the shop will lookHow the front of the shop will look (Image: Hook Mason Architecture, from application)

In particular, changes to the exterior of the building “would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Hereford Central conservation area”, she said.

But planning officer Eleanor Barry concluded that later amendments and further information from the applicant “has addressed the heritage concerns”, and the proposed front elevation “does not detract from the street scene”.

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Any harm to built heritage “is minimal and is outweighed by the benefits of securing the continued use of the ground floor and ensuring the viability of a business”, Ms Barry said.

The new outlet will take the place of Shoe Zone’s smaller store in nearby Eign Gate, the closure of which was announced last month.

Plans to convert the disused upper floors into flats, via new access from the rear of the shop, are expected in a separate application.