A DERELICT former nightclub in Llanelli will provide a roof over the head of homeless Armed Forces veterans and support to get them back on their feet.
The old Raffles nightclub building on Murray Street has been vacant for years and become “an eyesore”, according to a councillor and member of Carmarthenshire’s planning committee.
The committee has voted in favour of plans by the charity Helping Homeless Veterans UK to convert it into 16 self-contained units for eligible personnel.
There’ll be a ground-floor hub and communal area where rehabilitation sessions, counselling and employment training will take place. The main nightclub building will be retained and a new first and second floor rear extension added.
A spokesman for the Bournemouth-based charity said after the meeting: “Helping Homeless Veterans UK are committed to completing and converting the former Raffles nightclub into new accommodation with a hub for all veterans of HM Armed Forces”. It’s not known at this stage when work will start.
Council planning officer Paul Roberts said the Raffles building had been boarded up for more than 20 years and was unsightly. The proposals, he said, would result in a “significant positive impact on the appearance of Murray Street and surrounding area”.
Cllr Stephen Williams, who represents Llanelli’s Elli ward, said in a letter of support that he had discussed the proposals with Helping Homeless Veterans UK and that the project was needed. “This was further evidenced by a homeless veteran living rough in a tent during the winter of 2024 who would have been supported by this development,” said the letter. “The building is also intended to support (the) mental health of service personnel which is a huge concern.”
There were no objections to the application and committee member, Cllr Edward Skinner, proposed a vote in favour of the planning officer recommendation of approval. He said the building, which is owned by the county council, was an eyesore and that what was proposed would be a significant improvement.
One of the planning conditions is that the accommodation must only be occupied by Armed Forces veterans. An up-to-date register of all occupiers must kept at the premises, including their date of arrival and departure from the units.
Planning approval had been given in 2021 to demolish the former nightclub and build 12 residential care apartments with office space but the project didn’t get taken forward.
