Plans for flats in the old New Look store in Aberdare town centre have been approved.
An application to redevelop the upper floors of the property on Cardiff Street into seven flats was approved by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s planning committee on Thursday, January 13.
The application from Bexmoor Ltd would also see the ground floor kept for retail use. The number of flats has been reduced from 10 to seven.
The building is currently empty and was last used as a sweet shop and before that was a New Look store.
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The report said that because it is in the town centre it is in a highly sustainable location lying within walking distance of bus and railway services as well as local amenities including the local sport centre and Aberdare Park and Dare Valley Country Park.
The plan is for the ground floor to be refurbished and for the existing retail unit to be updated, the planning report said.
The existing shop front would remain and the floorspace would be altered with a large trading area served by a lobby kitchen area and toilets.
The remainder of the ground floor would be given over to access to the flats on the upper floors from both Cardiff Street and Bute Street along with cycle storage areas.
The first floor would have three flats with one two-bed flat served from the Cardiff Road side and two one-bed flats served from Bute Street.
The second floor would be converted to provide four one-bedroom flats with two served from Cardiff Street and two from Bute Street.
The work on the outside of the building would be repair work rather than a complete overhaul, the report said.
Planning officers have recommended the application for approval and said in the planning report: “The principle of the proposed development is considered acceptable in terms of both national and local planning policy and is compliant in terms of all other material planning considerations.”
It added that: “It is considered the reuse of the building would provide for the long term maintenance of the building to the benefit and preservation of it and the wider Aberdare Conservation Area.
“Whilst the proposal does not provide any off street car parking to serve the proposed development, the town centre location ensures that public transport, public car parks and local amenities are all within easy walking distance which results in less reliance on the private motor vehicle as the main mode of transport.
“Notwithstanding that the proposed use would have some impact on the residential amenity and privacy of the occupants of nearby properties this lies within an acceptable range given the nature of the area.”
No public comments were received by the council in relation to the application.
Local councillors Steve Bradwick and Michael Forey both raised concern about the lack of bin storage and Cllr Forey also raised the issue of the lack of on site parking.
Councillors Wendy Lewis and Gareth Wyn Hughes welcomed the fact that the number of flats had been reduced from 10 to seven.
Cllr Hughes said he understood the concerns of the local members but said it’s always a trade off.
He said: “Overall it’s a positive use of a building in the town centre”, adding that it’s in a sustainable location.
Councillor Pauline Jarman also raised concern over the lack of bin space and asked if space could be provided and whether the cycle storage space was acceptable.
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