It's a boost for Newtown town centre as a popular gift shop will be able to expand into an empty premises next door to become a bigger shop selling Welsh products.

No 1 High Street owner Liz Evans says she is “really excited” about the expansion after Powys County Council approved planning permission to knock through into the William Jones & Sons butcher shop which closed on New Year’s Eve after almost 150 years.

Liz said she hopes to have the shop ready within a few months offering more products such as cards, jewellery, children's toys, homeware, bags and books that are locally sourced and made in Wales.

“We’re overwhelmed by public support in the town and the town council," she said.

“We’ve taken on board all the feedback from customers. We’re still keeping our passion for Welsh products as well as lots of lovely new things.

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“We’re glad as a business we can do something positive. It’s not just our shop, it’s our customers’ shop as well.”

Council planners have given the go-ahead for the development, meaning the gift shop will expand into one half of the former butcher shop, leaving the other half nearest to Costa Coffee available for another business to move in.  

Plans were approved to remove an internal partition wall, create a disabled access with internal ramp for 2 High Street by replacing an existing window, as well as removing the existing signs from the front of the shop.

Powys County Council planners said that given the small scale of the development, the changes will “not have a detrimental impact” on the appearance and character of the existing buildings or have a negative impact on the surrounding listed buildings and wider historic area in Newtown.