Plans to convert a vandalised former Pembrokeshire town centre Chinese restaurant to a flat and bedsits have been submitted to the county council.

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 nine bedsits.

The proposals would see two bedsits on the ground floor, five bedsits on the first floor and two bedsits and a separate self-contained flat on the extended second floor of the building.

The applicants have recently purchased the Starboard Hotel, bar/restaurant next door.

The application for the Mandarin follows a withdrawn scheme for three flats deemed invalid by council planners.

A supporting statement says: “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It says that, after the previous scheme was withdrawn, the applicants have “since reviewed their position and now present revised applications to be considered by the council,” adding: “These have generally involved a change to the type of residential accommodation to be provided and some revisions to the design of the rear extension to address the officer’s initial concerns. The applications still involve the loss of the redundant restaurant use on the ground floor of the building.”

It adds: “The clients have re-thought on what type of accommodation is needed and required in this part of Milford Haven. It has been identified that the cheaper type of affordable housing for either workers or a single person is the most needed. Indeed, PCC Housing Need Register reflects this need, and this has also been confirmed by the local estate agents.”

It concludes: “The proposal is considered to put an important Grade-II-Listed Building back into beneficial use and would help to secure its long-term future. 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 will be considered by county planners at a later date.