Conwy’s Civic Hall to be Transformed into Food Hall, ‘Aparthotel’, and Community Space

Conwy’s Civic Hall will be converted into a food hall, ‘aparthotel’, and community performance space after Conwy’s planning committee unanimously backed plans this afternoon (Wednesday).
Nautical Point Limited were granted both planning permission and listed building consent to redevelop the former library building and grade-two listed building on Castle Street.
Planning committee member Cllr Anthony Bertola was excited about the plans.
“This is a brilliant opportunity,” he said.
“I’m very positive about it. What’s the contingency plan? If we leave it as it is, it’s going to be a condemned building. It is going to cause more trouble.
“We’ve got an opportunity here to develop and bring people in. The footfall will be incredible. Other businesses will thrive from it. Conwy is becoming quite an affluent area now. It is an opportunity for Aberconwy and Conwy to develop themselves and bring people in.”
He added: “I can’t see any problem with it at all. It’s going to change the whole ethos of the place in terms of people coming there and enjoying Conwy, and that will spill out into other areas of Aberconwy.”
Cllr Chris Cater, though, had concerns about luggage and parking as the plans didn’t include extra parking provision.
But the committee heard how visitors would use existing parking spaces in the town and that a section 106 agreement would ensure the developers contributed £55,000 towards promoting active travel in the area.
Cllr Dave Jones said: “As for the parking side of things, you go to most cities and a lot of Travel Inns and places like that, and they don’t have their own parking.
“You can usually utilise the city parking or the town parking, and you are directed to this parking by the hotels, and it works well. I’ve never had any problems with it.
“The building is long overdue getting back into use. I think that this fits beautifully within the town of Conwy, the way it is designed.”
The committee heard that the town would lose the adjoining public toilets at the back of the Civic Hall and that the toilets inside the refurbished building would be restricted to customer use only.
The plans for the Castle Street building include demolition work and alterations and extensions.
The existing concrete box structure at the back of the building will now be demolished, with first and second floor extensions to provide a 16-unit aparthotel.
The ground floor will be an open area food hall consisting of stalls, eating area, and toilets, with a lobby entrance from Castle Street.
The remainder of the building will be mixed use with a food hall and flexibility for community use and as a performance venue.
There will be a cycle store and services, together with a separate kiosk, an e-scooter charging point, and a refuse store area, with lifts and stairs providing access to the upper floors. A separate entrance will provide access from the Lower High Street.
The first floor will feature 10 aparthotel rooms, plant room, and shared staircase whilst the second floor will feature six aparthotel rooms, each with a private balcony, plant room, and shared staircase.

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter