AN indoor emporium in Winchester is set to close after losing a long-running planning battle.

Molly’s Den based at Moorside Road in Winnall has been told that it has to shut down within four months after the Planning Inspectorate dismissed an appeal by director Dean Souter.

It was opened in August 2014, despite having no planning consent for retail trade and building Molly's Den which is made up of shipping containers was a breach of planning control.

The council refused an application for planning consent in May 2015, however Mr Souter appealed after an enforcement notice was issued by Winchester City Council in November.

The notice stated that the containers must be dismantled, and the land should not be used for retail, play equipment must be removed, and cease the use of land as a cafe and restaurant.

But as all of this took place it has been a case of business as usual as trade has continued as owners felt it would be in Winchester City Council's interest that it stayed open.

There are other Molly's Den across the south including one in Bournemouth which opened without planning permission but was given temporary consent for three years after Members of Bournemouth’s planning board went against the advice of their planning officer to allow Molly’s Den in Francis Avenue, West Howe, to continue trading for three years.

One trader at Molly’s Den who asked not to be named said that it is a huge shame that it might have to close.

He said: “Lots of people come here it is popular and there is apart from the traders here an excellent cafe upstairs and that cafe services a lot of people that work here.”

“If they do close it down it would be outrageous, this is one of those places that puts Winchester on the map and businesses like this should be encouraged.”

Director of Molly's Den Mr Souter said that if they have to close they will look for "alternative" premises in the area, and said they have 100 traders who use it and overall there are 10 staff at Molly's Den and Toast Cafe.

Mr Souter said: "We are disappointed that the council feel that they are unable to grant us planning permission, as there are a number of empty units on the Winnall Industrial Estate and we thought that it would be in there best interest to have our premises occupied, especially as our unit had been empty for more than two years before we moved in.

"We are at the far end of Moorside Road, with our own car park and have received no complaints regarding parking/traffic movement along the road.

With many local businesses using our café during the day.

"Molly's Den has been a great asset to Winchester with local and national advertising, and many traders and customers travelling for miles to visit, we have helped to advertise the Vintage market that is held in Winchester on the first Sunday of each month, and we would like to think that we have helped to put Winchester on the map as a Vintage Destination, many of the items sold are unique to Molly’s Den and cannot be found for sale elsewhere in the area.

"We at present trading successfully in Bournemouth, New Milton and West Bay (Bridport) with plans to open other Molly Den’s in the future."