A British shoemaker looks set to take over a former luxury beauty clinic on Watergate Street.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has approved plans for Loake Shoemakers to convert 10 Watergate Street, previously home to Glossed, a beauty clinic that opened in 2022.

The Grade II-listed building features a medieval undercroft at street level, with upper storeys dating mainly from the 17th and 19th centuries.

Works are limited to alterations to the glazing, doors, non-illuminated signage and decoration. No extensions or additional floorspace are proposed, with all changes confined to the existing ground floor shop unit.

The original plans were amended during the application process to retain the building's existing multi-paned window and relocate a proposed digital display.

Before those changes were made, the council's conservation officer concluded that replacing the window would harm the significance of the listed building and the character and appearance of the conservation area, stating it "makes a positive contribution to both".

Concerns were also raised over the proposed digital display, which the conservation officer described as "inappropriate and harmful" to the setting of the conservation area. However, it was not assessed as part of the application.

Approving the scheme, the officer's report said: "Having special regard to the desirability of preserving the building, its setting and its features of special interest, it is considered that the proposed development would result in no material harm to the significance of the listed building."

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Founded in 1880, Loake Shoemakers is a family-owned company specialising in handmade Goodyear-welted men's shoes. It already operates a store at 16 Eastgate Street in Chester.

Describing the proposals as "modest and appropriate", the design and access statement said: "The continued retail use supports the long-term viable use of the listed building, contributes to the vitality of The Rows, and represents a sustainable form of development through the reuse of existing historic fabric."

You can find the planning application here.