A CAFE looks set to be converted into a home after the owners failed to find a buyer for the business before they retired.

A planning application for permission to convert the Grade II listed Portside Diner into a residential dwelling was lodged with Somerset West and Taunton Council before Christmas.

The two joint owners had failed to attract any interest from prospective buyers in the 18 months the café in Quay Street was advertised on the market.

The business, which is now closed, had been run on the ground floor of the three- and two-storey 18th Century building close to Minehead's harbour.

There are flats on the second and third floors, while the former café premises is currently unoccupied.

A statement submitted with the planning application says: "This application seeks consent to change the use of the existing café into a two-bedroom residential dwelling.

"The primary aspect of this application is to change the use of the existing café into a two-bedroom residential dwelling.

"The existing café has been advertised for sale for approximately 18 months with no interested parties.

"The current owners are now retired and therefore the café is vacant."

It adds that the proposal seeks to make only minor alterations to the internal layout, including putting up partition walls and removing modern walls in the rear storeroom..

The existing shop front would be retained, and secondary glazing installed for the upgrade.

A 19th Century extension, which currently houses the service area and kitchen, would be partitioned off to provide a bedroom and bathroom, while the modern rear storeroom would be converted into a kitchen.

The statement adds: "The only external alteration to the building would be the installation of a flush fitting conservation style rooflight to the rear roof slope of the 19th Century storeroom.

"The rooflight would not be visible from the conservation area or at ground floor level.

"The potential occupants for the property would have the option to purchase permits from the local authority for street parking, which is a common arrangement on Quay Street."