Amended plans for a scheme to convert a former Milford Haven Chinese restaurant to a flat and bedsits has been approved.

In an application recommended for approval at the February meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr S Sahin and Miss S Ahmed, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought permission for a change of use of Grade-II-listed 20 Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven from the former Mandarin Restaurant to one flat and eight bedsits.

The application had previously been recommended for approval at the January meeting, but was deferred pending a site visit after member of the public Jessica Clarke raised concerns about the potential impact on her mother’s neighbouring property, with issues of height and massing, surface water discharge, and shared boundary walls.

The scheme, in the town’s conservation area, was before committee rather than delegated to officers as it was recommended for approval despite being contrary to development plan policy.

A supporting statement said of the initial scheme: “The property has historically been in use as a Chinese restaurant on the ground floor with two flats on the upper floors of the building. The ground floor use of the building ceased some 10 years ago and currently lies vacant. Due to the lack of use of the building, it is in a very poor condition and has been the subject of unfortunate vandalism particularly to the interior of the building.”

It added: “The proposal would represent a high-quality and sympathetic conversion and extension of the building, and which would make a positive contribution to the locality and conservation area status.”

Speaking at the February meeting agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries said, following the site visit, an alternative hip-roof as “a compromise” to lessen the impact on neighbours by reducing the £200,000 investment’s scale and bulk had been suggested.

At that meeting, members backed a compromise delegation for any final approval going to a senior officer on condition the hip-roof design could be formally agreed.

A report recommending approval of the amended scheme said concerns had been raised on those plans by two members of the public, raising concerns regarding amenity impacts, the scale and siting of the extension, the external staircase, alleged unauthorised works to the listed building and general concerns regarding process and property value.

The report added: “These matters have been considered in the context of the amended scheme. The issues raised do not introduce any new material planning considerations that would alter the assessment presented in the original committee report.

“The proposed amendments do not result in unacceptable impacts, and the overall planning balance remains unchanged.”

The application was conditionally approved.

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