Plans have been lodged to renovate a Congleton town centre shop into a café and a dog grooming salon.

Congleton resident Lindsay Willmore has submitted a change of use application to Cheshire East Council to transform a disused ink shop in Mill Street, Congleton, into a pet-friendly café and salon.

The proposed development would divide the 64sqm of the ground floor premises into two sections. Running a dog grooming salon in the back and a dog-friendly café at the front of the unit.

A statement to Cheshire East Council claimed the conversion would be of 'no loss' to the town's retail market as there are existing premises 'stood empty' in the shopping area.

The application states: "The shop as it stands has a scruffy exterior and was an abandoned ink shop. Nothing would be lost to the community as there was nothing special about this property.

"Just around the corner from the property there is a pedestrianised shopping area that at present has numerous retail properties up for rent in more prominent positions, so this property is of no loss to the retail sector."

The last date for submitting comments on the application which can be viewed here is 31st March 2021. A decision on the proposals is expected to be made by 26th April.