A scheme to convert a vandalised former Pembrokeshire town centre Chinese restaurant to a flat and bedsits which was temporarily put on hold by planners last month is again being recommended for approval at a meeting today.

In an application to be heard at the February 10 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr S Sahin and Miss S Ahmed, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, seek 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, an amendment of an original scheme which included one extra bedsit.

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, is before committee rather than delegated to officers as it was recommended for approval despite being contrary to development plan policy.

The application for the Mandarin follows a withdrawn scheme for three flats deemed invalid by council planners.

A supporting statement said: “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.”

The application, again recommended for approval, said, as a matter was raised regarding the red line boundary, “a Certificate B notice was served during the course of the application”.

It added: “There have been no subsequent representations received since the service of the notice. Any issues arising as a result of land ownership and the notice served under certificate B are civil matters between the landowners.”