Approval given to turn former chapel in Peterborough village into community shop and post office

The Ailsworth Chapel on Main Street in Ailsworth held its last service in 2021 and has not been in use since 2022.

Plans were submitted by by David Hartley Associates on behalf of Baston Shop Ltd to oversee the conversion.

They state that the shop will stock a range of food, household items and other necessities, along with post office and laundry services.

The shop would employ three part-time staff and be open from 7am-8pm Monday to Sunday.

A manager’s flat will be located at the rear of the property.

The application states that: “The paper shop used to provide a community shop facility but is permanently closed. No other facility exists within a 1000 metre radius with residents of Castor and Ailsworth having to travel to Orton or Bretton to the east which offer a range of services.

"Wansford is a similar distance to the west where facilities include a post office and a BP garage slightly closer to Ailsworth off the A47. It should be noted that all of these facilities offer limited opportunity to be reached via any transport means other than by private car.”

It adds that: “The proposal secures the long-term use and revitalisation of a valued community asset. Public support for the proposal is positive, far outweighing any concerns around parking, which previously blighted an application for residential conversion at the site.

"Although lacking on site parking, street parking provision is ample for the managers flat element and the majority of customers are expected to use sustainable transport modes to visit from within a 1-mile radius.”

Plans were previously submitted to convert the building into three ‘high-spec’ residential units aimed at young professionals or retirees looking for low maintenance properties, but these were met with a number of objections from residents with concerns over parking and effects on the character of the conservation area. The proposal was then withdrawn.