PLANS to develop the upstairs of the empty Shauls Bakery premises in Wellington have been backed by local councillors.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s planning committee supported the proposals when they were discussed last week via Zoom video conferencing technology.

Shaul Properties has applied to Somerset West and Taunton Council for the change of use and conversion of the first, second and third floors into two flats.

The proposals for the property – which sits on the corner of High Street and South Street – also include alterations to the ground floor and creation of an entrance on the High Street side.

The Mayor of Wellington, Cllr Janet Lloyd, welcomed the application and said: “This building does need some TLC. This can only be good for the building and for the town.”

Cllr John Thorne agreed that it was good that something would be done to stop the building becoming run down in a conservation area.

“I welcome this,” he said. “It’s good to see something being done to this building and smartening up a listed building.

“I understand the ground floor will be a shop unit.”

Shauls Bakery has remained closed since the first national lockdown was introduced last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic with the company subsequently falling into administration.

Somerset West and Taunton Council will make a final decision on the application.