A FORMER garage could be turned into a tea room and offices.

Clayton Danks has asked Test Valley Borough Council for permission to convert Clayton Country Cars, in Dean Garage, The Dene, Hurstbourne Tarrant.

The Northern Area Planning Committee will decide on Thursday whether to grant permission for the former MOT bay to be converted into a cafe or tea room and the former workshop building to be used for offices and retail.

Planning officers have recommended that the plans are given the go-ahead.

A report concludes: “The principle of the development that is proposed is considered acceptable.

“However, the proposal is an economic development proposal, and would result in an approximate increase of eight-and-a-half full-time equivalent jobs.

“It is considered that the benefits of the economic development proposal, which would also provide community shops and a cafe, would result in an improvement to the character and appearance of the area, and thus in turn would preserve the natural beauty of the area of outstanding natural beauty, and are such that the proposal can be accepted despite the loss of employment use floor space.”