A FORMER Prestatyn café and museum could soon be turned into a three-bedroom home – if a planning committee goes against council officers’ recommendations.
Applicants Ms Denise Hannon and Mr Mark Thompson have applied to Denbighshire County Council’s planning department, seeking permission to convert the property at Station House at 1 Bridge Road.
The building was formerly the Teddy Bears and Teapots café, but Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is objecting to the plans following a flood-risk assessment.
The NRW concluded that there was a risk of tidal flooding, adding that not enough information was provided regarding the effects of future climate change.
The report also said the mitigation measures for flooding were insufficient.
Consequently, planning officers are recommending that Denbighshire’s planning committee reject the plans, but councillors will discuss the matter at a meeting at the council’s Ruthin HQ tomorrow (Wednesday).
The plans for the building don’t include any external or internal alterations.
Instead, if the plans were granted permission, the use of rooms would simply change to residential in the form of a living room, kitchen, and WC on the building’s ground floor.
Above, the rooms would be used as three bedrooms and a bathroom.
The plans also include the use of a rear/side garden and yard with an outhouse.
Denbighshire’s planning report concludes: “Whilst the principle and other planning considerations on this proposal may be acceptable, NRW have made a clear objection to the application on the basis of flood risk.
“Officers note the history of the site; however, in flood risk terms, a less vulnerable use has been operating at the site for over 10 years, and the planning assessment must take the last use into account.
“On the advice of NRW, which clearly states that the proposal fails to meet policy tests, officers have no option but to recommend refusal of the application on the grounds of flood risk.”
