Controversial plans to overhaul Llandudno’s Venue Cymru Spark Political Row

Controversial plans to overhaul Llandudno’s Venue Cymru – including the relocation of the town’s library – have sparked a political row over accusations of double standards in the council’s planning decisions.
Conwy County Council has submitted a planning application under the authority’s “Venue Cymru Futures” programme, proposing an extension and refurbishment of the theatre foyer to create a “Creative Hub”.
If approved, the scheme would house the Conwy Tourist Information Service, new community spaces, and “creative industry workspaces”.
Most controversially, though, the plans would see Llandudno Library building on Mostyn Street closed, fuelling fears of damaging the high street and customer access.
The library is set to move to Venue Cymru in the spring of 2027, after the UK Government committed £20m to upgrade the theatre – although the funds are reportedly not dependent on the library moving.
The planning application also details internal refurbishments to the auditorium, a new lobby for back-stage access, the installation of air source heat pumps and solar panels, external landscaping, and parking layout alterations.
Gross internal floorspace at the site would increase from 3,460 square metres to 4,670 square metres.
The controversial plans have already attracted a public backlash, with negative feedback in a public consultation and two petitions, signed by 1,800 and 569 people respectively, protesting the move.
Despite this, the council pressed on with the plans.
But Conservative Gogarth Mostyn councillor Harry Saville, who has long criticised the scheme, has formally submitted an objection to the planning authority.
In a letter to the planning department, he said: “The development falls within the Council’s conservation area, meaning that new developments should not have a negative impact on the heritage amenity of the surrounding area.
“I am deeply concerned about the proposal to significantly increase the massing of the northern part of the building, which will accommodate Llandudno’s Library.
“The proposed scale and mass of the extension is inappropriate within the context of the surrounding buildings and entirely unnecessary.”
In his letter, Cllr Saville then pointed to council officers objecting to a planning application to site mobile phone masts at Venue Cymru to improve connectivity – with the reason cited as the theatre being in a conservation area.
Cornerstone’s plans were eventually approved in June 2025 after an online campaign, despite officers stating the plans “would have a severely detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area”.
Cllr Saville wrote: “In light of the above, I was surprised to read that the Heritage Statement included within the Design and Access Report for this latest application claims, ‘The impact on the Conservation Area and adjacent listed buildings will be very minimal. Any harm will be offset by the social and economic benefits of enhancing Venue Cymru as one of the key amenities of the town.’”
“This is a very positive assessment of a large development that is not in keeping with the Conservation Area and seems to be at odds with the Council’s position on a development at the same site around a year previously.
“The document is badged with the Conwy County Borough Council logo, and I understand that staff from the Council’s planning department were consulted on its drafting.”
Cllr Saville then said in his letter the new plans “submitted by a senior Council employee to deliver an unwanted political vanity project” were being “foisted upon the local community” and again drew comparisons to officers opposing the phone masts at the same location.
He added: “It is essential that the Council clarifies that it will take a consistent approach in determining these applications. Otherwise public confidence in Conwy’s planning system will be severely undermined.”
On its website, Conwy County Council says: “The Venue Cymru Futures Project is an exciting investment that will help Venue Cymru thrive for the future.
“It will modernise the building, protect and improve the Llandudno area library, create a brand‑new Culture Hub, and provide a welcoming, sustainable home for the Tourism Information Service.”
The plans will be debated at a future Conwy County Council planning committee at the authority’s Coed Pella HQ in Colwyn Bay.
To write in support or objection to a planning application, visit https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Planning-Building-Control-and-Conservation/Planning-Applications/Comment-on-a-Planning-Application.aspx

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter

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