PLANS have been revealed to rejuvenate a "tired and unloved" listed building in Great Malvern centre.

The shop area at Montague House, 8 Worcester Road, was Burley's Hairdressers before owner David Burley retired in 2019.

Now Hillrow Homes, based in Much Cowarne, Herefordshire, wants to renovate and convert the existing, vacant building to form a retail unit together with three flats, including a single-storey rear extension.

The grade two-listed structure had previously housed commercial accommodation, the salon, over two floors with a flat on the second level and an enclosed rear yard.

A design and access statement from the applicant's agents Ten Acre Services said: "The building is in a very poor state of repair and is in urgent need of conversion and renovation.

"The plan form is dictated by the existing building but endeavours to make full use of a somewhat tired and unloved building."

Its proposal states: "To retain a retail unit at ground-floor level together with associated storage in the basement.

"At first-floor level a two-bedroom flat will be formed and the existing flat at second-floor level will be upgraded to a two-bedroom unit.

"At basement/lower ground floor an extension will be built to form a one-bed flat opening out into the rear garden.

"In the course of the conversion the building will be renovated to a high standard to form modern-day facilities incorporating all energy-saving elements."

Montague House, a former boarding house for Malvern Water Cure, became Burley's Hairdressers when it was taken on by Mr Burley's grandfather Harry in 1920 before being passed to his father Dennis and subsequently him.

It is believed the playwright George Bernard Shaw, former speaker of the House of Commons Bernard Weatherill, journalist Jeremy Paxman and the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle all popped in at various points.

The planning application states there will be a partial demolition within the building restricted to "minor works" as "part of replanning of the interior".

There is to be two parking spaces for motorbikes and six for bicycles with Worcestershire County Council's highways department having no objections due to its central location.

Colin Purser, of the agents, said: "I've worked for this client for nearly 15 years. They do a very good job and bring it up to a high standard."

The consultation period for the application runs until Tuesday, January 30 and then it goes before district planners.