A Herefordshire builder with plans to repurpose an independent rural garage in the county has said he is now looking at ways to also keep the popular garage open.

Ben Davies, owner of Ben Davies Design & Build, has just been granted planning permission to convert buildings and open space at Mill Garage, Tram Inn southwest of Hereford into a workshop, office and storage for his growing business.

He said the opportunity to buy the premises had arisen from a chance conversation with the previous owners, who are approaching retirement age.

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“But they have a large customer base, who say they are sad to see it go,” he said.

“There are no good local garages southside now. So we will try to keep it going, even if that means a new planning application. I feel I should employ people to carry it on.”

Indeed he had come to value the garage himself, which serviced and MOT’d his firm’s fleet of vans, now numbering 13, and had previously sold him vehicles, he explained.

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As his domestic building firm has expanded, from a one-man band to now having 11 employees, “I now need an office where I can bring clients”.

But while it will be straightforward to also retain the garage’s current facilities, its status as an MOT test station would also need to be re-applied for and “could require upgrades”, he said.

The previous owners declined to comment.