The site of a butcher’s shop that served customers for more than 100 years is set to be transformed into a family house.

Lydd Butchers had been a staple of the town since 1910, but after its owner retired in 2022, a question mark hung over the future of the Grade II-listed building.

Now Folkestone & Hythe District Council has approved plans for the 1750 structure to be redeveloped into a residential property, while maintaining its historic architectural features.

Council papers say the two-storey building in High Street will become a five-bedroom house.

“The conversation of the property will involve opening up of the former butcher’s shop and the removal of dividing walls between the shop,” the documents say.

“It will also include a new patio area to the rear, a larger parking area of gravel to allow for turning and parking and new vehicle gates.

“The removal of the butcher shop fittings would create the proposed lounge.”

“If you haven’t got a car then you can only shop local but the local shops keep closing down…”

More of the building’s timber frame will be exposed and the original staircase is also to be reinstated.

The planning application received no objections and Lydd Mayor Cllr Robert Jones told KentOnline that as much as he will miss the butcher’s shop, he’s relieved the building will go to good use.

“It was a really nice butcher’s - we used it many times before and the chap who ran it was so friendly,” said Cllr Jones.

“It’s a shame to see it go, but it’s a fact of life that a lot of small businesses are closing down and I’m glad at least that it’s going to be used for a family home rather than going derelict.”

The mayor added that the closure of local businesses in the Romney Marsh town is becoming a common story.

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He said: “It’s like every village or small town, really. Businesses are just going - they’re just collapsing.

“Every day all day people are getting deliveries just from Amazon all the time so I think that’s what’s driving it.

“We haven’t got a very a good public transport network here, so if you haven’t got a car then you can only shop local but the local shops keep closing down.”