A FORMER shoe shop in Launceston may become the home of another estate agent.

Some local residents have decried the advent of what is termed the BBC — banks, building societies and charity shops — rather than genuine retailers.

A change of use planning application has been submitted to Cornwall Council — which took over planning regulation from the former North Cornwall District Council — for number 13, High Street, Launceston, which housed Briggs Shoe Shop until its closure.

The applicant wants the switch from Class A1(retail) to Class A2 (estate agents).

Launceston Chamber of Commerce discussed the matter at a recent meeting.

The minutes say that it was agreed that a further estate agent in the Square was far from ideal but given the current economic climate and the rents of such prominent premises it might be more difficult for a landlord to attract "a more desirable independent retail outlet."

The chamber noted that Kivells had recently vacated premises in the Square previously occupied by KVN Stockdale and that Bradleys estate agents had moved out of Westgate Street.

The general view of the meeting, say the minutes, was that while it would be better for the former Briggs premises to be used for more "interesting" purposes to attact shoppers, any objection to the application was unlikely to succeed and if a business was serious about taking on the lease, it would be better to have the premises occupied than empty.

The chamber therefore agreed not to make any formal objection to this change of use application.