A FORMAL change of use planning application has gone in to turn an historic chemist's shop in Abingdon into a gin bar and restaurant.

The High Street property had been the home of Smith’s chemist for more than a century until it moved in 2016 to Stert Street.

Documents submitted with the application reveal more about the project, stating work to fix 'serious damp issues' in the cellar of the Grade-II listed building were 'nearing completion.'

It also talked about efforts to reduce the impact of noise from the new business.

A design and access statement said:"The potential for generating unreasonable levels of noise is an important element of the business that has been very carefully considered."

It went on to say 'noise deadening' materials would be used in the renovation and provided a noise assessment study showing this would make the gin bar 'low impact'.

READ AGAIN: Gin bar and restaurant to open at former historic chemist's shop in Abingdon

Pub manager Ronnie Carter told The Oxford Mail last month that he is hoping to open the new business, which will be called The Old Chemist, in February.

At the time he said he was keen to honour the building's past: "We are very aware of the building’s history so we want to make the most of those connections.

“We have kept some of the old fixtures and fittings from the chemist and the restaurant will be book-lined as it will be situated in the old library’s reading room.

Oxford Mail:

“The town’s library used to be in the High Street and we believe the space where the restaurant is going to be was once an old reading room.”

The plans can be viewed in full via whitehorsedc.gov.uk.