Burnham-on-Sea former bank to be converted into flats

A former bank building in Burnham-on-Sea is set to be converted into residential flats after a local planning committee approved the project despite objections from council officers.

The landmark building on College Street, previously used by Lloyds Bank, will have its first and second floors transformed into four flats. The ground floor is intended for commercial use by a collective of property-focused businesses.

Planning officers from Somerset Council initially opposed the proposal, arguing that replacing the building's existing timber window frames with heritage-style uPVC would damage the character of the town's conservation area. However, the planning committee north overruled these objections in a nine-to-one vote.

Property owner Darren Clapp argued that the building's proximity to the sea—approximately 100 yards away—makes timber frames difficult and expensive to maintain due to exposure to salt, wind, and rain. Clapp noted that installing timber frames would cost £152,000, whereas heritage-style uPVC would cost £43,000. The committee described the officers' stance as “an arcane rule in a dusty tome” that could hinder the viability of new housing.