Disused Railway Station Approved for Holiday Let Conversion

Plans to transform a former railway station, which ceased passenger services over six decades ago, into a holiday rental property have received official approval. Leaton New Station, located near the village of Bomere Heath in Shropshire, began operations in 1847. It closed to passengers in 1960 and then for goods traffic in 1965. The owner, Lord Ambrose Langley-Ingress, submitted a proposal to convert the structure into a holiday let, intending to provide guest accommodation in conjunction with the “established bed and breakfast business” at the Old Station. Shropshire Council granted full planning permission for the project, subject to certain conditions. The Bomere Heath & District Parish Council also expressed support for the plans, noting that the initiative would enhance a dilapidated building while preserving local history and attracting tourism to the area. Lord Langley-Ingress acquired both the Old and New Stations in 1983 and subsequently converted the Old Station building into a bed and breakfast establishment in 1997. A statement included with the planning application indicated that the applicant needed to expand to “future proof the business and let it continue to grow.” The proposal aimed to “enhance the scale and appearance” of the site and sought to “minimise the change to the character of the building,” the statement affirmed. It further added: “All proposals respect the existing building character by enhancing its remaining architectural merits.” This news was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organizations.