Former Chinese Takeaway Next to Vacant Coach House in Cwmbran Can Be Converted into One Bedroom Home

A VACANT coach house in a “poor condition” next to a former Chinese takeaway can be converted to a one bedroom home. 
The two-storey building is at the rear of the former Chinese takeaway at 4-6 Chapel Street, in Pontnewydd, Cwmbran. A previous application had intended converting the ground floor of the former restaurant to two flats but was withdrawn due to issues including a lack of windows for habitable rooms. 
The current application, by Xiao Chem, is only for the coach house but the two properties share a garden while the coach house is next door to a vehicle repair garage in a lane running behind Commercial Street. 
The council received three objections to the plans, including that work had started before permission was granted and its “close proximity” to the Odd Fellow’s Arms pub would “likely result in future noise complaints”. 
Torfaen Borough Council planning officer Mia McAndrew, described the coach house as having been “in a poor condition” but said a site visit confirmed work had already started and the plans would see the ground floor split into two rooms including a kitchen/dining room and living room with a hallway area and staircase.  
A bedroom, bathroom and study would be provided on the upper floor. The garden and an existing outbuilding, to be used for cycle and waste storage, would be shared with the former takeaway and accessed via the rear gate. 
Ms McAndrew said there are a number of different building uses in the area and no concerns around noise were raised by the environmental health department while she said the rear of the pub is 17 metres away. 
The council’s parking standards would normally require one parking space be provided but due to its sustainable location, in the centre of Pontnewydd and close to Cwmbran town centre, Ms McAndrew said the lack of a space was acceptable on balance. 
 The application was approved with conditions.  ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​