A call to let a former village car showroom remain as a beauty salon despite it being against official planning guidance has been allowed.

In an application recommended for approval at the November 4 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr E Jenkins sought permission for a retrospective change of use of the former Chaz Motors showroom, Crundale to a beauty salon.

The application was for committee decision as it was recommended for approval contrary to policies of the local development plan.

Policy reasons against the scheme included development which relates to enterprises for which a countryside location is essential would be promoted, a beauty salon being considered unsuitable at this location, and no site-specific reasons for the development on the application site.

A report for members said the use of the site for car sales and servicing ceased in early 2022, with the change to a beauty salon starting this January.

It said, ironically, a hairdressers rather than a beauty saloon, or even other retail use, change of use could have been made without any permission.

“The application site forms part of a larger area of land that until recently was used for car sales (and servicing) and, as such, it could be developed for unrestricted retail use without the need for a planning application.

“Similarly, the building could be used as a hairdressing salon, an A1 Use, without the need for a planning application, given the permitted change of use from car sales to retail use and the fact that a hairdressing salon is a use within Class A1. This use would be similar in many operational aspects to the current beauty salon operating from the application site.”

It went on to say: “Approval of the current application with appropriate conditions would be preferable to the fallback position whereby an unrestricted retail development could be developed on the application site without a need for a planning g application. The fallback position is considered to be a material consideration sufficient to outweigh the identified conflict with the relevant policies [of the LDP].”

Following a move of approval by Cllr Brian Hall, members backed the recommendation.