Former nightclub site in Abergele could be turned into housing development

Conwy council will hold its second planning meeting of the pandemic era next Wednesday, with plans for a former nightclub to become a residential development.

The proposal is to gain outline planning permission to build 14 homes on the Windjammers nightclub site in Belgrano, Abergele.

It is located in a C1 flood zone but architects working for the applicant, Mr Gizzi, claim a study ordered into the risk concluded the site would be flood free until 2117. The owner of the site is Nigel Gizzi.

Cllr Andrew Wood, representing Gele ward, has been consulted and he is in favour of the plan.

He said the flood risk is 0.01% and the site escaped flooding in 1996. He also remarked a development of 30 properties to the east of the site had not been affected by flooding either.

The properties would be a mix of terraced, detached and semi-detached homes with a density of seven two-bed, four three-bed and three four-bed properties.

Planning committee members are being recommended to either refuse outline permission for the development of two, three and four bed properties, or allow officers to determine it under delegation.

The site does have a certificate of lawfulness for the existing use as a public house together with manager’s accommodation, granted in 2018.

The design and access statement mentions “the possibility that the landowner would have no other option than to reopen as a wine bar and nightclub if a suitable alternative is not found”.

The bar was torched deliberately, according to North Wales fire and rescue service, in August 2013 and three people were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Planning committee members will decide the application on Wednesday June 10 from 2pm.

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter