A fresh call to convert a Pembrokeshire town centre former bank to a nail bar which was previously refused by county planners has been submitted.

In a scheme refused back in March, Huw Tuyen Nguyen, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought permission for a change of use of the former Halifax bank at Grade-II-listed 10 Victoria Place, in Haverfordwest’s conservation area, to a nail bar, along with a related listed building consent.

Halifax closed its Haverfordwest branch back in 2024, leaving it with no more branches in the county.

A supporting statement accompanying the nail bar application at the three-storey building said: “This application seeks to put the ground floor to an alternative commercial/retail use and which together with some internal and external alterations, also seeks to convert the upper two floors into a single high-quality flat.”

It went on to say of the change of use to a nail bar: “This part of the application would allow the relocation and expansion of a professional service facility to serve Haverfordwest and the surrounding areas. This forms the basis of aspirations to grow the business, both in the immediate short term, and in the future as the business continues to grow.

“The applicant has explained that the current business is a nail salon which has been trading for some 15 years but under a different management. The applicant has had the business since January 2022.”

The application was refused on grounds including the design “fails to respect the historic character of the listed building and the wider terrace,” and “the proposal fails to satisfy the statutory duty to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Haverfordwest Conservation Area”.

Since then, a resubmitted application, again through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd has been lodged with planners, with the flat element removed.

It includes a new shopfront design which would be “more traditional in design”.

A supporting statement says: “In our view, this revised proposal is considered to represent not only a significant improvement over the previously refused applications, but which should also result in an overall better, quality shopfront than the existing and be a welcome enhancement to this town centre location. As such, the proposal should be welcomed by the council.”

It adds: “For the avoidance of any doubt, these revised applications do involve any change to the use of the upper floors, such as for possible future use as flats. The future use of the upper floors is still under consideration by the applicant.”

The resubmitted application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

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